NEWS

ODNR to begin lowering Buckeye Lake levels

Anna Bisaro
abisaro@gannett.com

BUCKEYE LAKE – Beginning Thursday, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will begin testing the lake drains to bring the water level down to winter pool levels.

These measures comply with safety recommendations from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

"We expect people to see what they think is an unusual amount of water," said John Wisse, ODNR communications manager.

Wisse said the agency will be posting an announcement on its website about the drain exercise Thursday to reduce local panic. He advised that the increased water coming from the dam in the coming days will not be the result of a dam failure.

The state has said that keeping the lake at winter pool levels will aid in the construction of a new $150 million project to replace the current 4.1-mile structure.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a report in March that the current dam has been severely weakened and poses a risk to local property owners and residents. Should a breach occur, major flooding could affect more than 3,000 people, the report noted.

After the testing and draining begins Thursday, it will continue for one week, Wisse said. Water will be coming from two main spillways, one on Ohio 79 and the other at Sellers Point.

The department will monitor the areas below each spillway throughout the testing of the drains, Wisse said.

Wisse also said the department is crafting an updated letter to send to dock and home owners along the dam. The contents of the letter have not been released yet, but residents and property owners should expect more updates from the department soon, he said.

According to an AP report, the Buckeye Lake Chamber of Commerce plans to bring in another expert to look at the dam. The report noted that the chamber is hopeful a second opinion could mean faster construction on the new project and less of an effect on area businesses.

But the ODNR will proceed with the recommendations from the original U.S. Army Corps of Engineers report.

"We stand by the Corps report," Wisse said. "We have no plans for a second study."

abisaro@gannett.com

740-328-8822

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