 Site preparation work began in 1913 with the placement of foundations in the riverbed, for which a $40,000 contract was awarded to Arthur S. Bent Construction Co.In 1917 a concrete "thrust block" was poured on the south side of the canyon to take the weight of the future dam, as the rock on this side was not high enough to support the structure.The contract for the dam itself was let to Bent Brothers and W.A.