Published: June 25, 2009 08:57 pm      

Lake to remain at curent level

Somerset — Lake Cumberland will remain at its current level, more than 40 feet below pool stage, through the 2010 tourist season, according to an announcement yesterday by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Lt. Col. Bernard Lindstrom, commander of the Corps’ Nashville District, and Brigadier General John Peabody, commander of the Corps’ Great Lakes and Ohio River Division, said it would be during the fall of next year before an assessment of the lake level can be done. They made the statement at a meeting with marina owners and operators at the resource manager’s office on Boat Dock Road.

“We conducted a detailed analysis of risk factors that impact the construction schedule ... and risks to construction such as drilling rates and hydromill performance will most likely drive completion of Critical Area No. 1 (where the concrete and earthen sections of the dam join) until October 2010,” Lindstrom said. Timetable for completion of the entire project should not be affected, he said, expressing confidence the contract will be completed by the fall of 2012.

Lindstrom said during a media tour at the dam this spring that “ ... hopefully, hopefully, hopefully” an assessment of the lake level could be made as early as next April. Yesterday’s revelation pushes the timetable for completing Critical Area No. 1 back six months, and only then will a change in the lake level be considered. Since autumns are normally dry in Kentucky, the earliest possible increase in the lake level could be with spring rains in 2011.

Establishing an initial grout curtain failed in Critical Area No. 1. Holes drilled into the area increased seepage and caused material movement, described by Corps officials as a dangerous situation.

Despite the newly revealed delay, Corps officials assure the dam is in no immediate danger of failing. A news release from the Corps said there are no significant changes in the foundation of the dam.

“Every time we drill into the foundation ... we learn more about the condition of the limestone hundreds of feet underground,” said David Hendrix, project manager for the Wolf Creek Dam rehabilitation program. “The information we gather improves our understanding of the foundation and how we address the seepage problem at the dam,” he said.

Grouting was initially stopped but has been resumed with a thicker concrete mixture that Lindstrom said “ ... is working.” Critical Area No. 1 won’t be repaired until a permanent concrete diaphragm has been inserted into that section of the structure and deep into the limestone base below the dam.

The delay appeared to deepen gloom that shrouded a roomful of marina owners and operators who want the Corps to change policies, including abating rental payments to ease financial strain on the marinas. Rental payments were abated in 2007, the first year the lake was lowered, but since then marina officials say they have been told they have to pay.

“(Partnership with the Corps and financial relief for marina owners) can only be achieved by a sincere commitment from the Corps’ highest level of leadership and a determination to make it happen,” said J.D. Hamilton, president of the Lake Cumberland Association. He contends the region will suffer through a prolonged era of economic malaise triggered by the emergency drawdown of the lake in January 2007. The lake was lowered because Wolf Creek Dam was declared in high risk of failure by an outside panel of experts.

Dock owners and Corps officials disagree on the economic impact of the lake drawdown. Hamilton and others claim business is down as much as 34 percent while Corps officials say their information shows a 10 percent decline, much of which they attribute to the worldwide economic downturn. Marina owners predict several of them may be forced out of business.

Peabody emphasized to the marina representatives that the Corps does not make policy or change policy. However, he emphatically promised he will discuss policy changes with his superiors and see what relief can be had.

Treviicos Soletanche JV, a French-Italian firm known for its expertise in this type of work, has a $341.4 contract to install the diaphragm through the earthen section of the dam. Total cost of the rehabilitation is estimated at $584 million and Lindstrom said he doesn’t expect that to change.