SPIRIT LAKE — Spirit Lake's relief valve is wearing down.

The nonprofit Friends of Spirit Lake is raising money to replace a dam at the northern tip of the lake. The dam was built in 1908.

"This project is long overdue and is the highest priority for Spirit Lake," said Jerry Peterson, project manager and board member.

"The current dam has been deteriorating for decades and is now prone to failure. Not only is it extremely dangerous to remove and then reinstall the existing dam boards against the outflow current, but is also dependent on someone's discretion and availability to do it."

When the existing dam boards were not reinstalled for three or four days last spring, the result was hundreds of thousands of gallons of water lost from the lake, Peterson said.

The existing wood-and-concrete structure was built by the former Panhandle Lumber Co. to create a mill pond for its lumber mill on the lake. The spillway has wooden timbers that must be replaced and removed by hand, making it a difficult and dangerous project.

Board member Paul Sturm said that without the dam, the mill pond would dry up and the level of the rest of the lake would drop significantly, impairing summer recreation, fisheries and access to the lake. The dam also prevents spring flooding and protects property values, Sturm said.

The planned new dam will be concrete and steel and require little human intervention to maintain the desired lake level.

"It will also have an emergency manually operated spill gate that can be operated easily and safely in case of a 100- to 500-year flood event," Sturm said.

The new dam will also more effectively maintain water levels during years of drought, he added.

"Seems like a no-brainer," a press release from the Friends states. "Anyone who enjoys Spirit Lake should contribute in support of this long overdue necessity."

The Friends has raised nearly $30,000 for the project that's estimated to cost $167,400. The cost includes removal of the old dam, site preparation, construction, permits and engineering.

The construction date is unclear as work won't start until all of the money is received, Sturm said.

Engineering is complete and construction permits will be sought by the city.

"The city of Spirit Lake will ultimately be the government agency that must apply for the permits since the dam will be within the city limits of Spirit Lake and the city will operate the dam," Sturm said. "The main effort now is to raise funds through donations and grants."

The Friends will hold a free awareness event on Aug. 3 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Boar's Nest Lakefront Bar and Grill at Sedlmayer's Spirit Lake Resort. Music will be provided by Spare Parts, which plays pop and rock tunes from the ’60s and ’70s.

There will also be a silent auction to raise funds for the dam project.

"Anyone who lives, works or plays on or around Spirit Lake and is interested in the well-being of the lake environment is welcome to attend," a press release states.

Donations can also be made at friendsofspiritlake.com or via mail at: Dam Project, P.O. Box 363, Spirit Lake, ID 83869.

The Friends has a volunteer grant writer who will work with the city and other agencies to seek grants for the project.

The nonprofit, also known as the Spirit Lake Property Owners Association, was formed in March 1973 and has 363 members.