Kasich: Buckeye Lake to remain low, dam to be replaced
Gov. John Kasich on Thursday committed to spending more than $100 million in state money to rebuild the Buckeye Lake dam, but said the lake's water levels will remain low until the work is complete.
The governor said the decision to replace the entire dam was necessary after problems there had been ignored for decades.
"This is a problem that should have been addressed 30 to 40 years ago that was basically ignored by previous administrations," he said.
While he called a proposal to completely drain the lake "inconceivable," he was adamant the water levels in Buckeye Lake would remain low until the dam is replaced. The governor said he understood concerns the lower levels would hurt the local economy, but Kasich said the risk to life was too great to raise them.
"There's no question this imposes hardships on people," he said, but noted the state will be spending a lot of money to improve the area.
A video released by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources showed that even a small dam breach could quickly escalate and put a large surrounding area and thousands of residents at risk.
The governor estimated the dam replacement project could cost between $120 million and $150 million and take five years to complete. Planning work could start as soon as Monday, ODNR Director James Zehringer said.
Legislators representing the area around the lake said they did not anticipate any problems in getting the money for the project approved. Sen. Troy Balderson, R-Zanesville, said the project is a state responsibility and one they will accept without a need for local assistance.
"There will be no obstacles getting funding approved," said Balderson, who represents the Fairfield County portion of the lake.
Sen. Jay Hottinger, R-Newark, said while there could be some federal assistance or grant funding available, the state is prepared to make the entire investment if necessary. Kasich said the project would be financed through revenue bonds as part of the regular capital budget proposal. Hottinger said the first new installment of that budget would come before the legislature next year, but existing dam repair money can be used now to start the project.
Hottinger agreed keeping the water level lows is the right move, even though he knows it isn't ideal for residents of the area.
"That's the only option," he said.
Hottinger said he thinks the work, once complete, will make the lake a greater asset than it is now. He said some immediate dredging work on the lake could make it deeper in some areas, which could help area residents and businesses.
The water at the lake just south of Interstate 70, roughly an hour east of Columbus, has remained at winter levels this month after a report from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers raised serious concerns about the safety of the dam. The report, which was released last week, said the 4.1-mile dam has serious deficiencies and that potential responses include replacing the dam, draining the lake and evacuating up to 3,000 people.
The project would include replacing the entire earthen dam with a new one. While this might move residents a bit farther from the lakefront, Kasich said he did not think it would require the removal of any existing homes.
Although the problems with the dam are not new — several previous studies have outlined them — the Corps' report has put renewed emphasis on the problems, according to many state and local officials.
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