REPUBLICAN CITY, Neb. (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin repairing the Harlan County Dam’s discharge gates early next year in a $12.3 million project.

Corrosion has built up on the dam’s gates after more than 50 years of use in south-central Nebraska.

Ken Stark with the Corps says the dam’s gates are also difficult to operate because of friction problems with the bearings.

The gates are used to release water stored for the downstream Bostwick Irrigation districts in Nebraska and Kansas. They’re also used to release floodwaters when the lake is high.

The initial project will take about 3½ years to complete. Stark says funding is available for repairs to the dam’s other 12 gates.