Program Manager Safety of Dams, Larry Wolf said, "The dam was built from 1906 to 1908 so its been there for a 100 years."

Time has taken its toll.

During a routine inspection, the Bureau of Reclamation realized the Lake Lowell Dam was damaged to the point it could threaten lives, Wolf said, "It would be a potential for loss of life and property damage along the way."

A failure would flood portions of Nampa and Caldwell.

One of the first to be washed away would be Curtis and Korrine Ayers' home.

They live less than half a mile from the dam.

Korrine Ayers said, "Chances are I would lose everything life and all."

Curtis Ayers "it would be under water, I can't imagine it."

A plan was launched on the Caldwell side of the dam, the entire concrete conduit was removed and will be replaced.

On the Nampa side, 20 foot section of the conduit is being fixed.

Wolf said, "With these modifications it should be able to serve them for a long time in the future."

It's a 19 million dollar project and Officials say it's worth every penny because if it wasn't caught in time, it could have lead to a catastrophe.