Obama proposes spending $85 million to finish fixing leaky Wolf Creek Dam

President Barack Obama's proposed budget includes $85 million to finish fixing leaks at Wolf Creek Dam, which impounds Lake Cumberland, according to a news release from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

It would be the last major appropriation for the project, although some spending could continue past the end of the federal fiscal year in September 2013, according to a Corps spokesman.

The estimated date to finish the project is December 2013. If that holds, the water level at the giant lake could return to normal for the summer 2014 tourist season.

The corps has kept the lake well below the usual summer mark since early 2007 to ease pressure on the dam while making repairs.

A contractor is installing a giant concrete wall into the rock below the earthen section of the dam to cut off seepage channels.

The repair project will cost an estimated $584 million, although that could increase.

This story was originally published February 14, 2012 at 12:43 PM with the headline "Obama proposes spending $85 million to finish fixing leaky Wolf Creek Dam."