RAMP WORK AT ALLIGATOR ONE BEGINS

 

 

Lake Area Visitation

 

Early reports indicate that visitation numbers are up 20% at Lake Cumberland State Resort Park as compared to May 2006. that increase is credited to curious sight seers, construction workers at the dam, the media and other factors.

 

CORPS’ WEEKLY REPORT 5/31/07

 

 

 

 

STATE APPROVES MODIFICATIONS FOR BURNSIDE, JAMESTOWN AND ALBANY WATER TREATMENT PLANTS

 

Actions in response to lower lake levels

 

FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 6, 2007) – The Kentucky Division of Water (DOW) has approved water intake modification plans for the water treatment plants in Burnside, Jamestown and Albany. The modifications will enable the systems to continue drawing from Lake Cumberland if its water is further reduced.

Modifications were necessitated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ decision, announced in January, to lower Lake Cumberland by 43 feet to accommodate repairs to Wolf Creek Dam.

“I applaud the quick action by the Division of Water in reviewing and approving the plans submitted by these local water systems,” Governor Ernie Fletcher said. “The expedited review will help ensure that the drinking water supply to residents in the area will not be disrupted by the Corps’ repair project.”

Governor Fletcher signed an executive order in April establishing a funding framework to address public safety and water supply concerns caused by the lower lake levels. Governor Fletcher has authorized up to $25 million in emergency funding for infrastructure projects.

            Somerset Water Service plan modifications were approved in March. Monticello Water and Sewer Commission plans were also approved in March but are currently undergoing further revision. McCreary County Water District has not yet submitted its modification plan to the Division of Water. The plant serving Woodson Bend property owners does not require modification at the present time.

The seven water systems supply drinking water to 203,000 people in nine counties -- Adair, Clinton, Cumberland, Lincoln, McCreary, Monroe, Pulaski, Russell and Wayne.

The Burnside water treatment plant supplies water to about 2,438 people in Pulaski County. It plans to construct an alternate raw water intake using 500 feet of pipe and a floating intake with two water pumps. This alternate intake would be the only functional raw-water intake for Burnside if the lake is lowered further, which the Corps has advised is a possibility.

Jamestown Municipal Water Works provides water to approximately 24,800 people. In addition to serving 10,303 Jamestown residents, the plant sells water to Russell Springs and a portion of Adair County Water District. Russell Springs, in turn, sells water to portions of the East Casey County Water District and the Adair County Water District.

The Jamestown plant modifications include an 8,000-foot raw-water pipe extension to a floating intake situated in the lake pool and equipped with three pumps. The floating intake will carry flashing beacon lights to make it visible to boaters.

Albany Water Works provides drinking water to the Albany population of 16,545 and sells water to a portion of Cumberland County Water District, serving 4,950. The plant modification plans call for a 29,500-foot raw-water pipe extension to a floating intake situated in the lake pool and equipped with four pumps. Like Jamestown’s platform, it also will be equipped with flashing beacon lights for visibility to boaters.

The Corps of Engineers anticipates the project to repair the leaking dam could take up to seven years. Governor Ernie Fletcher has directed his administration to do everything possible to help communities in the Lake Cumberland area with issues related to the drawdown. DOW continues to provide technical assistance to all the area municipal water systems.

 

MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND PICTURES WANTED!

 

We are looking to update our photo gallery with pictures of what the lake looked like over the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend, hopefully showing lots of boats and big crowds.

 

Please send pictures to me at this e-mail address (chris.gilligan@ky.gov).

 

Please include a note indicating that we are free to use the photos as we wish and free of charge.

 

We will include them in our newsletter and on our photo gallery as soon as we receive them.

 

 

LIST OF RAMPS SCHEDULED TO BE OPEN

 

• Alligator II
• Beaver Creek
• Conley Bottom Resort
• Cumberland Point recreation Area
• Fall Creek Recreation Area
• General Burnside Island State Park
• Grider Hill Marina
• Halcomb’s Landing
• Jamestown Marina
• Lake Cumberland State Resort Park
• Lee’s Ford Marina
• Lilly Creek
• Noes Dock #2 (Bee’s Creek)
• Old Waitsboro Crossing
• Ono
• Piney Grove
• Pleasant Hill
• Slate Branch
• Waitsboro Recreation Area

 

 

LIST OF COUNTY RAMPS TO BE EXTENDED IN THE COMING WEEKS

 

Russell County ramp extension projects total: $479,409. Ramps to be extended are:

 

Bates road ramp                                              Pleasant Hill ramp

Campbells road ramp                                      Poplar Hill road ramp

Clifty Creek ramp                                           Rowena ramp

Denney Ridge ramp                                        Twin Oak ramp

Island road ramp

 

Wayne County ramp extension projects total $313,505. Ramps to be extended are:

 

Bunkum Road/Carter’s Dock ramp                Ramsey Point ramp

Clearwater/Panhandle ramp                            Shelton Branch ramp

Cumberland Glen ramp                                   Stinger/Rankin-Orchard ramp

Jonesville ramp                                                Tate I ramp

Meece-Sellars/White Oak ramp                      Tate II ramp

Mystic View ramp                                          Twyfor’s Point ramp

Park Forest/Beshears ramp

 

Pulaski County ramp extension projects total $64,935. Ramps to be extended are:

 

Cave Creek ramp (Diamond Acres Community)

Doodletown road ramp (Garland Bend ramp)

Echo Point boat ramp (Aderholt road)

Jasper Bend ramp (Jasper Bend Community)

Piney Woods boat ramp (Naomi Community)

Springwater boat ramp (Pole Bridge Community)

 

It's official: Lake Cumberland will NOT be lowered further
5-23-2007

The level of Lake Cumberland will definitely not be lowered below 680 feet this summer. That’s the official word as spoken by Lt. Col. Steven J. Reomhildt, the District Engineer and head of the Nashville division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who is in charge of the rehabilitation work on Wolf Creek Dam.

Speaking before the state’s news media at a press conference held Monday on a houseboat at State Dock in Russell County, Lt. Col. Roemhildt emphatically stated that there are no plans to lower the elevation of the lake below the previously announced plans of having it remain around 680 feet above sea level, approximately 40-45 feet below the normal summer elevation.

The lower than usual elevation of the lake was put in place as a safety measure to reduce pressure on water seepage through the leaky dam. A seven-year $309 million project is underway that is expected to provide a long term fix for the dam, which has had previous serious leaks.

The lowered water levels are in place to reduce the water pressure that may be seeping through underground fissures. The level of the lake does not necessarily affect the construction work on building a “diaphragm wall” inside the three-quarter mile long earth fill portion of the giant dam. Lt. Col. Roemhildt reported that current grouting inside the dam appears to be working. “Everything is going as we expected,” he told the media, noting that the dam “is safer than it was a year ago.”

Noting that “We have no plans to go below 680 feet,” he said the Corps plans to maintain the water at that level “until it is safe to bring it up.” He has previously stated that a review of the grouting work will be conducted in September or October. At that time, it may be decided to maintain the current level or possibly even allow it to rise to maybe 700 feet during the next summer, depending on whether it is deemed safe to do so.

Noting that a lot of people have wondered about the Corps’ strong suggestions that municipal water systems intakes be extended to where they could draw water as low as 650 feet by Dec. 31, Roemhildt said “That does not mean we have plans to go below 680 feet.” He noted that the extensions – which are currently being funded – are advised just in case the many stress indicators that have been added to the dam show additional problems.

Roemhildt has been in charge of the Nashville District since the current problems with the dam have been announced, and he has overseen the extensive response to the situation. However, he’ll be leaving the job on July 20. That’s when he is being transferred to Bagdad to oversee reconstruction of Iraq.
 

WEB SITES OF INTEREST

 

http://duo-county.com/cam_lake01.html

Jamestown Resort Marina, from the motel island looking ESE out to the main lake.

LIVE WEBCAM ON LAKE CUMBERLAND