ODNR: Girard dam needs repairs

City engineer Dennis Meek met with city council Monday to discuss what needs to be remediated for the stabilization of the dam, which has been described as “a high hazard dam” by the ODNR. The dam is part of the 175-acre Upper Girard Lake.

“What is being required is all about safety,” Meek said, noting routine maintenance is needed.

Meek said ODNR will work with the city to seek funding for the improvements in order to meet state safety criteria. He said the dam’s classification as “a high hazard dam” helps qualify it for a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant that would cover 65 percent of the engineering study, and planning and preliminary design work.

Meek said the ODNR would be the lead agency for the grant with $24 million available for high hazard dams. He said the improvements at the lake need to be done before December 2025.

Councilman-at-Large Sam Zirafi requested legislation be prepared for the June 26 meeting to enter into an engineering agreement with Verdantas of Dublin, Ohio, at $195,000 to explore the Upper Girard Lake dam issues.

“We have to move forward with this and get the funds we need,” said Zirafi, chairman of the utilities committee.

“All dams have seepage because of concrete cracking. What is needed is being able to intercept that water and get drainage away from the dam to avoid it building up and saturating the dam’s soil. We have to prove that the dam is stable. That is our responsibility,” Meek said.

He said as part of the engineering study, soil samples will need to be taken around the dam to look at the condition and how compact it is and also look at water pressure at the dam. ODNR also wants to know that the dam is secure, so holes will be bored to make sure it’s not about to give way. Officials said costs for soil boring work is $95,000.

The concrete pipe and concrete funnel that together drain water from the lake also must be inspected. Meek said drilling work would take six weeks and engineers getting soil samples could take two to three months.

He said work would involve rebuilding the dam on both sides at a different slope. Meek said if a new emergency spillway is needed the cost could be approximately $1.5 million with engineering and construction costs.

Meek said if improvements aren’t made, ODNR can have the dam removed.

He said the high hazard designation is what could happen if the dam fails and water comes through, damaging properties and putting lives in danger. He said Lower Girard Lake, which is empty, serves as a buffer.

The dam was constructed in 1930 for probable maximum flooding and is located at the southern end of Upper Girard Lake. Councilwoman-at-Large Lily Martuccio said she was concerned about all the money that will need to be spent for the project. She asked for caucus time at 6:15 p.m. June 26 to further review the matter.

Officials said ODNR inspects dams every five years.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com