Media Coverage

Dam progress to continue in winter

Published: November 21, 2008

By BILL MARDIS, Editor Emeritus
Commonwealth Journal

The onset of cold weather has not stalled progress on initial steps to rehabilitate Wolf Creek Dam.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says on its website that Treviicos-Soletanche JV, general contractor for the rehabilitation project, has submitted an Environmental Protection Plan and a 90-day detailed schedule for review. A second office trailer has been set up in Staging Area 2 to accommodate on site staff, the website notes.

Representatives of Treviicos-Soletanche JV also have met with the Kentucky Department of Transportation to discuss traffic controls on U.S. 127, the highway that crosses the mile-long dam. Controls will likely include a traffic light at Power Plant Road and a reduced speed limit in vicinity of the dam, according to website information.

Treviicos-Soletanche also met November 3 with local emergency managers to inform them of the project status. Reports indicate the meeting went well.

Also, Corps officials said they have received a letter from the Kentucky Environmental Protection Cabinet stating that efforts by ACT Ltd, the grouting contractor, to restore the disposal area have adequately addressed all concerns in a Notice of Violation.

Problems at Wolf Creek Dam and necessary lowering of the lake have been a grave concern both upstream and downstream from the structure. An accelerated grouting program has been under way since January 2007 to slow uncontrolled seepage that resulted in the dam being classified as in “high risk” of failure.

At completion of the grouting –– pumping chemically enhanced liquid concrete into the dam –– 838,000 gallons of grout had been pumped into 1,317 holes in the embankment. A total of more than 844,234 gallons has been pumped into the foundation in all areas, according to the Corps.

The Corps announced July 23 that a contract in the amount of $341.4 million had been awarded to Treviicos-Soletanche JV, for installation of the concrete barrier wall through the earthen section of the dam.

The dam repair is a joint project between Treviicos, an Italian firm, and Soletanche, based in France. This will be the second barrier wall inserted into the dam. ISO Corporation, an Italian firm, inserted a diaphragm in the dam between 1975 and 1979 to repair a serious leak discovered during the late 1960s.

The original wall –– not long enough or deep enough –- slowed but didn’t stop the seepage. The leaks gradually worsened and the Corps announced in August 2005 that major rehabilitation of the dam is necessary. The lake was lowered 43 feet below pool stage in January 2007 to ease pressure on the dam.

The concrete barrier in Wolf Creek Dam, as envisioned by Corps engineers, will be a combination of secant piles and rectangular panels installed through the earthen embankment to a depth of about 275 feet.

It will go deep into the foundation rock to effectively cut off seepage through the limestone. The wall will extend eastward along the upstream embankment from the concrete section to the right abutment, a length of about 4,200 feet.

David Hendrix, project manager at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Nashville District Office, told the Commonwealth Journal late last year that specifications of the new wall have a minimum requirement of at least two feet thick. Its depth in the bedrock will range to more than 100 feet, depending on the formation of the rock.

“We’re taking the wall down to the Catheys Formation,” said Hendrix. He explained that this is more competent limestone rock that the Leipers Formation, a karst limestone region beneath the dam that is marked by sinkholes and interspersed with abrupt ridges, irregular, bulging rocks, caverns and underground streams. Seepage through this karst causes the dam to develop serious leaks.

The contract to insert another barrier wall in Wolf Creek Dam includes a time frame of four years. If completed on time, the work would be done in 2012.

The lake currently is three-quarters of a foot below the target of 680 feet above sea level. As of noon Thursday, the lake was at 679.26 feet and rising slowly. Water was being released through the dam at the rate of 530 cubic feet per second.

Dam repair expected to resume soon Local News
9/19/08
Somerset Commonwealth Journal

by BILL MARDIS, Editor Emeritus
Commonwealth Journal

A Notice to Proceed is expected to be issued before the end of September for contractors to begin mobilizing equipment to build a barrier wall through the earthen section of Wolf Creek Dam.

Allison Jarrett, public affairs specialist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Nashville District, said this week that grouting work and installation of instruments are complete and the work area has been cleared to make way for the barrier wall contractors.

Treviicos Soletanche JV has been awarded a $341.4 million contract to place a second concrete diaphragm in Wolf Creek Dam to stop uncontrolled seepage that has plagued the dam since Lake Cumberland was impounded.

The concrete barrier wall is the primary element of the Wolf Creek Dam Seepage Rehabilitation Project. The wall will be a combination of secant piles and rectangular panels installed through the earthen embankment to a depth of about 275 feet.

It will go deep into the foundation rock to effectively cut off seepage through the limestone. The wall will extend eastward along the upstream embankment from the concrete section to the right abutment, a length of about 4,200 feet.

Rehabilitation of the dam will be basically complete when the barrier wall is inserted. The four-year contract, if completed on time, would put the finish date in 2012, some two years earlier than has been projected.

Lt. Col. Bernard R. Lindstrom, commander of the Corps’ Nashville District, said Treviicos Soletanche JV is actually two companies –– Treviicos Corporation, an Italian firm, and Soletanche JV of France.

Treviicos Corporation is a full service ground engineering company capable of projects as diverse as automated underground parking garages, deep jet grout foundations, soft ground tunneling, dam cutoffs and oil and well drilling. It was founded in 1957 by Davide Trevisani in Cesena, Italy.

Lindstrom said he is not positive, but believes Treviicos may have merged with ISO Corporation, the Italian firm that inserted the original diaphragm wall in Wolf Creek Dam during the 1970s.

Soletanche was recently part of joint ventures to upgrade West End Dam on the West River in Uxbridge, Mass., and a $14 billion Arabian waterfront city project east of Abu Dhabi Island to house about 120,000 people.

The massive project at Wolf Creek Dam is unlike any done previously anywhere in the world. Jarrett said the contractors initially will use a technique area for tests to see what type of wall is best. “They will practice configuration of the same wall,” Jarrett said.

“(The diaphragm wall) will be a very long, lasting fix,” Lindstrom told the Commonwealth Journal during a visit to Somerset this past summer. “It will be built to last. (The lake) will be here for your great grandchildren to enjoy. It will be there for many generations to come.”

Wolf Creek Dam has had seepage problems since the gates were closed in December 1950. A near catastrophe occurred in the late 1960s when huge sinkholes developed in the vicinity of the electrical grid below the dam and muddy water was observed in the tailrace.

A concrete diaphragm was extended through the earthen section of the dam during the 1970s but the problem didn’t go away. The Corps announced in August 2005 that Wolf Creek Dam had been determined in high risk of failure and a major rehabilitation, including a longer and deeper diaphragm wall, would be necessary.

Rehabilitation of the dam officially got under way in January 2007 with an accelerated grouting program. The water level at that time was lowered 40 feet below normal operating levels to ease pressure on the dam.

Wolf Creek Dam has been impounding Lake Cumberland for nearly 58 years. Construction of dam was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1938 and the River Harbor Act of 1946 as part of a comprehensive plan to develop the Cumberland River Basin. However, because of World War II and other factors, construction was not completed until 1950. The last of the power generators was installed in 1952.

None of the six turbines in the dam is currently operating. Hydropower generation has ceased while the Corps tries to maintain the lake at 680 feet above sea level.

The lake level at 6 a.m. Thursday was 680.14 feet above sea level. Water was being released through the dam at the rate of 530 cubic feet per second.

European firms to build Wolf Creek Dam wall
07/24/2008
Lexington Herald-Leader
By Estep, Bill

The federal agency that manages Lake Cumberland has awarded a $341.4 million contract for a massive concrete wall to seal off leaks at Wolf Creek Dam.

The contract calls for completing the work in four years. That means if construction starts this fall as anticipated, the wall should be done by the fall of 2012, said David Hendrix, manager of the project for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The corps had earlier estimated the wall would cost about $309 million to build, but that estimate was from more than two years ago. Higher prices, notably for fuel and cement, account for the increased contract cost, he said.

The entire project to fix the dam will have cost more than $400 million by the time it's finished. The price tag for pumping grout into the dam to stem leaks on an emergency basis, which has been going on since last year, will come in at about $60 million, Hendrix said.

Those totals don't include engineering and design work and other costs of the project.

Treviicos Corp. and Soletanche Bachy submitted the winning proposal to do the work as a joint venture. Both are among the leading companies in the world that do the kind of work needed at the dam, Hendrix said.

Treviicos is an Italian company and Soletanche Bachy is a French company, but both work around the globe and have subsidiary headquarters in the United States. The contract was awarded in the name of Treviicos Soletanche JV, the corps said.

U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers said both companies have a long history of dam rehabilitation and construction work, and have done other projects for the corps.

"Shoring up Wolf Creek Dam for boaters and fishermen, lake-dependent businesses, hydropower, and water-strapped communities is of utmost importance, and I am pleased to see a decision on the wall contract," Rogers said in a statement.

Seeping water

The wall is needed because water is seeping through voids in the rock underneath the dam, potentially undermining the mile-long structure. The dam was finished in the early 1950s to create the giant lake in southern Kentucky.

In January 2007, the corps decided to quickly lower the surface level of the lake to take pressure off the dam while beginning repairs. The leaks create a risk that the dam will fail; if it did, there could be billions of dollars in damage downstream and possibly dozens of deaths.

However, federal officials have stressed that the dam is not at imminent risk of failure, and that monitoring systems are in place to provide ample warning of an impending breach so that people could get to safety.

The work to drill holes into the rock beneath the dam and inject liquid has stemmed leaks and made the dam safer, corps officials have said.

Contractors have pumped nearly 840,000 gallons of grout into the dam so far.

The new wall -- essentially a dam within a dam -- is designed to be a longer-term solution. Contractors will build it inside the earthen section of the dam and join it to the existing concrete part of the structure, which houses the hydroelectric generators.

The wall will be 4,200 feet long, 275 feet deep and at least 2 feet wide at all points.

The corps installed a similar wall in the 1970s to cut off leaks, but it apparently wasn't built deep enough to get down to more solid rock. The new $341 million wall will go 50 feet deeper than the old one, Hendrix said.

Regional tourism down

The lake is the centerpiece of the regional tourism economy, generating an estimated annual spending of about $150 million.

The decision to lower the water level last year caused some visitors to stay away. Visits for 2007 were down more than 11 percent from 2006; many marinas and lake-area businesses said their revenue dropped 30 percent or more.

Even at the lower level, however, the lake still has 38,000 surface acres, making it the third-largest lake in the state. Visitors have gotten used to the lower water level, and say it makes for interesting scenery and good boating.

Still, many people would like to see a higher lake level. The corps might raise the surface level 5 to 10 feet when the emergency grouting is completed, though that isn't certain.

It was welcome news to many in lake country that the corps had awarded a contract designed to end leaks at the dam.

"I'll be glad when things get back to normal," said James Flatt, general manager at Indian Hills Resort-Alligator 2 Marina in Russell County.
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By Blake Farmer

Corps Awards Contract for Primary Element to Strengthen Wolf Creek Dam
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008

Work on concrete barrier needed to shore up the leaky Wolf Creek Dam will begin this fall. The Corps of Engineers awarded a 340-million dollar contract today to two European firms.

Upstream from Nashville on the Cumberland River, the dam abuts a manmade embankment where water has been seeping through the limestone, weakening the entire dam. Project manager David Hendrix says the contractors will build a concrete wall 275-feet deep, through those earthen embankments.

“They’re drilling large diameter holes, filling them with concrete, then you go over and drill the next large diameter hole, and overlap a certain amount so that the concentric piles will be inner connected.”

The wall will extend nearly three-quarters of a mile and include some panels eight feet wide and several feet thick.

Hendrix says the embankment will gradually strengthen as the rods and panels are installed. He says the new wall is the most critical piece of the dam repair project.

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Published: June 30, 2008 07:55 pm

Dam 'crisis' was caused by false reading
By BILL Mardis, Editor Emeritus Commonwealth Journal Somerset

A spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assured the Commonwealth Journal yester-day that there is no crisis at Wolf Creek Dam.

Ed Evans, chief of public affairs at the Nashville District of the Corps, said a false reading on an inclinometer, an instrument that measures fractional movement in the dam, created a scare and triggered the Dam Safety Committee into action.

The inaccurate reading resulted in a momentary crisis mode, temporary suspension of the grouting operation and finally a decision to install four new instruments to monitor movement in the dam. The faulty instrument reading was discovered by the Dam Safety Committee and a group of independent engineers, Evans said. This was done, he said, by comparing the inclinometer reading with other instrumentation in the dam.

The public affairs office admitted the faulty reading was initially taken seriously. He indicated there were thoughts about lowering the lake level further to ease pressure on the dam. Emergency management personnel in cities and counties downstream of the dam were notified of the situation.

However, Evans admits the notification did not happen quickly enough and the Corps is trying to devise a plan for faster delivery of emergency information. He said part of the reason for a slower than desired notification was because the crisis happened at night and “ ... it was hard to get in touch” with emergency management people.

Evans said the course of action is to install four new instruments in the dam to monitor movement in the structure. The southbound lane of U.S. 127 at the top of the dam is currently closed while four holes are being drilled to install the instruments. Hopefully, Evans said, the work can be done in time to have both lanes of the highway open by the Fourth of July.

“There is drilling equipment up there ... there are lights up there,” Evans said of the work at the top of the dam.

The public affairs officer doesn’t believe the current work will change the overall timetable to rehabilitate of the leaky dam. Repairs on the dam, at a cost of $309 million, are scheduled for completed in 2014.

The Corps is currently evaluating proposals to insert a concrete diaphragm wall through the earthen section of the dam and up to 100 feet into the bedrock beneath the dam. A contract for the wall is expected to be let about the middle of this month.

Evans did say, for the first time, that there will be no change in the lake level this year. There had been speculation, some of it from Congressman Hal Rogers’ office, that the level of the lake would be raised 10 feet this summer. However, the Corps quickly refuted this speculation, saying only that the level would be evaluated as soon as the first of two grout curtains are completed. The initial grout curtain was nearing completion as the work was shut down because of the faulty reading.

“The lake level won’t change ... it won’t go higher and it won’t go lower,” Evans said. The lake level was lowered more than 40 feet in January 2007 to ease pressure on the dam.

A metropolitan news-paper, in a story carried by The Associated Press and the Commonwealth Jour-nal, quoted Barney Davis Jr., chief of the Corps’ engineering-construction division, as saying the dam was settling at a higher than normal rate. Evans said yesterday that no one has told him about unusually rapid settling of the dam.

He said a news release was being prepared late last week but was never sent to news media outlets. “They came up with that on their own,” he said of the originator of the story about the dam situation.

Wolf Creek Dam has been plagued by seepage since it was closed in December 1950. A more serious leak with sinkholes and a muddy tailrace were discovered in the late 1960s.

An initial diaphragm wall, shorter in length and depth, was installed during the 1970s. However, the Corps has been aware since March 2005 that rehabilitation of the dam was necessary. An outside panel of experts had declared the structure in high risk of failure.
___________________________

The Army Corps of Engineers has temporarily stopped key emergency repairs at the leaky Wolf Creek Dam while authorities investigate an area that has been rapidly settling.

The corps stopped grouting at a critical earthen portion of the Russell County dam about two weeks ago while agency officials investigate unexpected settling, said Barney Davis Jr., chief of the corps' engineering-construction Nashville division.

The area of concern is near where the 4,000-foot-long earthen portion meets a concrete dam and hydropower plant, he said. The dam has been settling at a faster rate than previously recorded — nearly an inch in the last year.

Since surface monitoring began in 1981, the dam has settled steadily at a rate of about an eighth of an inch per year, Davis said.

While Davis acknowledged officials' concerns, he said there was no reason for the public to be alarmed.

"It does not impose additional risk to the project," he said.

Mike Wilson, the corps' Nashville deputy for project management, said grouting in other areas continues.

The dam was built decades ago atop cavern- and fissure-riddled limestone. The corps considers it among its five most risky. It's spending more than $300million over seven years to repair leaks.

Work has included injecting massive amounts of grout into underground gaps. Corps officials are also evaluating a major contract for installing a 275-foot-deep concrete wall along the entire earthen portion of the dam.

The fix is similar to one that was carried out in the 1970s, but with a smaller wall.

Davis said the corps will take several months to determine the cause of the settling and how to proceed. It's possible that injecting the grout caused some shifting underground, triggering faster settling, he said.

The delay should not make the corps fall behind schedule, but a decision on whether it could raise the water level of Lake Cumberland may be further delayed. That decision had been expected earlier this year and the lake has been held about 40 feet below normal summer levels since January 2007 to relieve pressure on the dam and reduce the downriver risks in the event of a breach.

Bob Luessenhop, who lives about six miles below the dam near the Cumberland River in Cumberland County, and commutes daily on a road that runs across the dam, was not aware of the setback but said he's not terribly concerned about the dam failing.

He said he's confident the Corps of Engineers would issue a timely evacuation warning if one were ever needed. However, he said his confidence in the agency has weakened as he's learned about failures of corps-designed levees in other states.

Local and state officials also were not aware of the latest problem at Wolf Creek Dam but they expressed confidence in the corps' management of the project.

"The position we have taken ... is that the corps is doing everything they can to make sure they don't have a (dam) failure," said Tim Hicks, judge executive for Cumberland County.

"We have tried to prepare our county through notification systems. We are in much better shape than we were a couple of years ago."

Mark York, spokesman for the Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet, said news of a setback is not surprising.

"With any construction project, there are almost always some things that occur that you have to stop and address as it goes along," he said.
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Corps of Engineers Halts work on Wolf Creek Dam
By James Bruggers •
Courier-Journal, Lexington, Kentucky
June 26, 2008

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has temporarily stopped a key part of its emergency repairs at the leaky Wolf Creek dam while it investigates “an area of concern,” officials said this afternoon.

Details were not immediately available from Corps spokesman Steven Foshee. But Foshee acknowledged this afternoon that the Corps’ accelerated grouting program into a critical part of the earthen portion of the dam had stopped while Corps officials investigate an unexpected situation.

The “area of concern” is where the 4,000-foot-long earthen portion meets a concrete dam on the Cumberland River, he said.

Barney Davis Jr., chief of the Corps' engineering-construction Nashville division, said the earthen portion of the dam had been settling at a faster rate than previously. The Corps is going to take the next several months to determine the cause and how to proceed.

“While this is a concern, it does not impose additional risk to the project,” Corps officials said in a press release.

The dam was built decades ago atop cavern- and fissure- riddled limestone. The Corps considers Wolf Creek Dam among its five most risky.

It’s spending more than $300 million over seven years to repair leaks.

It’s been filling underground gaps with grout, and later plans to install a 275-foot deep concrete wall along the entire earthen portion of the dam. It’s similar to one that was carried out in the 1970s, with a smaller wall.

ON LAKE CUMBERLAND, Ky. — There’s a growing vacation craze in America that has some families enjoying activities on the water for the first time.
It’s houseboating, and if you’ve never tried it, Kentucky’s Lake Cumberland is one of the most scenic spots for giving this alternative outing a maiden run.

While there is plenty to do in and around the area, such as the Big South Fork Scenic Railway and a number of state parks, renting a houseboat can provide all the fun a family needs. From fishing and swimming to cooking out and exploring waterfalls, Lake Cumberland has thousands of private coves, more than 1,000 miles of scenic shoreline and is one of the country’s top houseboating destinations.

“Houseboat vacations are a great getaway for families to just be able to relax and spend time together,” said Holly Polton, regional coordinator for Marina’s International and WaterWay Adventures, which has been renting houseboats at Burnside Marina and nearby Beaver Creek Resort since 1998.

July is the busiest month for houseboat rentals, she added, noting that reservations for that month are typically made a year in advance. In all, the marina has about 400 houseboat rentals each year.

Located in the foothills of the Cumberland Mountains, Lake Cumberland is the fourth most popular lake of its kind in the nation and is the centerpiece of the regional tourism industry, attracting 4.7 million visitors annually.

Burnside Marina, located on the east side of Lake Cumberland in Burnside, Ky., just outside Somerset, offers houseboat rentals in a number of sizes and with amenities that include air conditioning, TVs, DVD players and private state rooms. In fact, being on a houseboat is like a condo on the water with full bathrooms, large living rooms and full dining rooms.

Boats available through Burnside include the Explorer, a 64-by-16-foot houseboat, which sleeps up to 10 and costs on average $1,850 for five days between now and mid August. For even more space, consider the super-sized Mystic at 80 feet by 18 feet, which sleeps 12 and averages $4,300 for five days between now and mid August.

Prices are considerably lower during the fall and spring months.

Outside amenities on some houseboats include hot tubs on the upper deck and onboard water slides, offering fun for kids and adults alike. Many houseboats include gas grills and have space for dining on the outer deck. Or cook your meals indoors in a fully equipped kitchen and serve in the dining room or on the upper deck, where there is plenty of room for everyone to spread out.

Following a brief orientation on how to operate the boat, vacationers are turned loose to navigate the lake and can choose to motor around and explore or pick a secluded spot to anchor and enjoy the solitude Lake Cumberland can provide. And don’t let the rumors fool you. While the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is currently in the midst of repairing the Wolf Creek Dam on the lake, there’s still plenty of water to float your boat.

Remember, prices vary according to the size of the boat, time of year and whether you choose a boat with a hot tub. But you can bring all of your own groceries and even catch your own supper, a big savings when compared to the cost of eating in restaurants typically associated with family vacations.

In addition, when you consider the larger boats have as many as six bedrooms, you can always split the cost and share the fun with multiple families. Remember, the more the merrier and houseboat vacations make for the perfect family reunion setting, away from the hustle and bustle of a busy resort town or amusement part.

Burnside Marina also offers ski boats and jet skis for rent. For more information on houseboat vacations at Lake Cumberland or to make a reservation, contact Burnside Marina at (606) 561-4223 or visit them online at www.waterwayadventures.com.

To round out your trip and find out about other attractions in Southern and Eastern Kentucky, go to www.tourseky.com.

K.K. Snyder is a freelance writer who resides in metro Albany.

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Last summer, all Kathy Allen’s guests wanted to know about was the condition of Lake Cumberland. This tourist season, it rarely crosses their minds.

“Last year people wanted to know if they could walk across the lake,” said Allen, co-owner of Golden Pond Resort in Monticello. “This year, I’ve only had one person ask about the condition of the lake. I don’t think the lake level will be a factor this year at all.”

That’s a contrast from the region’s 2007 tourist season when repairs on the Wolf Creek Dam required a 40-foot water level drawdown that left creeks shallow and resort owners scrambling to refute media reports that the lake had all but disappeared.

Resort operators got a boost from a Kentucky Department of Tourism media blitz in target markets in Indiana, Cincinnati and Cleveland. And while U.S. Army Corps of Engineers crews repaired, extended or created 52 public access boat ramps around the lake, tourism representatives hit the road assuring visitors to boat and tourism trade shows that Lake Cumberland was still plenty full.
At the season’s end, the drawdown’s negative economic impact never did reach the projected 50 percent mark.

According to Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District, Lake Cumberland’s visitation figures fell just 10 percent — to 3.9 million in 2007 from 4.4 million in 2006. And resort owners also say they closed the books on a better than expected season. According to Debbie Schumann, special events and human resources coordinator for the State Dock Marina in Jamestown, reservations were down about 25 percent.

“It’s been a non-event,” said State Dock Marina President Bill Jasper. “In fact, there were some unexpected benefits. If you walk the dock and talk to people, they say they like things the way they are. They like the beach, and they like the fact that the lake is cleaner.”

That’s not to say that the 2007 tourism season won’t be without its challenge. Spiking gasoline prices already are already jangling the nerves of tourism industry players everywhere. But with it’s well established backyard tourism base, Tourism Liaison Van Back says Lake Cumberland could actually benefit from high fuel costs.

“People plan for vacations,” Back said. “The difference will be that gas prices might convince them to vacation closer to home. So we could actually see more visitors come from Louisville, Lexington and Cincinnati. In fact, we could even get visitors from new markets like Knoxville.” — Patrice Bucciarelli

Kentucky hosts free fishing weekend for June 7-8

Jun 01, 2008 @ 10:53 AM

Herald-Dispatch.com

Frankfort, Ky. — With gas prices at record highs and grocery costs climbing, anything free is a true gift. During the weekend of June 7-8, anglers across the state can fish free on any public waters in Kentucky. No fishing license or trout permit is required these two days as part of the annual Free Fishing Weekend.

Several fishing events geared toward kids are being offered around the state to commemorate Free Fishing Weekend.

For those who live in the central Kentucky and Louisville area, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources will host a fishing derby for kids under the age of 16 from 5 -8 p.m. June 6 and from 7-10 a.m. June 7. The derby is being held at the two lakes at Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Headquarters, located west of Frankfort off U.S. 60 west. Kids age 15 and younger never need a fishing license or trout permit.

Headquarters lakes will close to all fishing June 4, then reopen for all anglers at 10 a.m. June 7. The two lakes will receive a special stocking of 1,400 catfish and 1,400 bluegill for the event.

Marc Johnson, aquatic education coordinator for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, said prizes will be awarded by random drawing throughout the derby. “We do that so kids learning to fish that day have the same chance at a prize as a kid who has fished with his or her grandfather for years,” Johnson said. “We try to make sure everyone walks away with something.”

The event is free, but participants are encouraged to bring their own fishing equipment and preferred baits or lures. A limited amount of fishing equipment and bait will be provided for those who need it.

A number of law enforcement agencies will also be showcasing safety at the fishing derby. “There will be emergency vehicles and fire trucks and police cars,” Johnson explained. “They will provide information to parents about how kids can be safe in our modern world. Topics such as Internet safety and gun safety will be covered.”

One of the largest fishing and outdoor events for kids will be held from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Eastern time June 7 at Green River Lake State Park. Organizer Jim Evans expects 1,500 kids and 2,000 adults to attend the free event. In addition to fishing, kids can sample archery, shooting sports, canoeing and kayaking. Country singer Marshall Law will perform and attendees will receive free hot dogs and hamburgers. Thanks to donations and sponsorships, organizers expect to give away nearly $12,000 worth of door prizes.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will also host its annual Catch a Rainbow Fishing Derby on June 7 at the Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery, located off U.S.127 just below Lake Cumberland’s Wolf Creek Dam. The free event is for kids 15 and under. Youth anglers will also receive hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy and soft drinks.

Smokey the Bear will be on hand as well as students from Pulaski Southwestern High School’s Raptor Recovery Program showing live raptors.

Registration for the free fishing derby begins at 8 a.m. Central time. Participants must bring their own fishing tackle. Go online to www.kidscatcharainbow.org/derby.htm for more information.

Other fishing events for kids scheduled for Saturday, June 7 include the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Carp Fishing Derby at Rough River Lake from 9 a.m. – noon, and the Kids Free Fishing Weekend Derby at Minor E. Clark Fish Hatchery near Morehead from 7:30 - 10:30 a.m.

These are just a few of the fishing events going on around the state during Free Fishing Weekend. Sponsors can publicize their local fishing events by registering them on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website at fw.ky.gov, then typing in the keywords, “fishing events.” This is also the best way for anglers to find fishing events nearest to them.

Author Lee McClellan is the associate editor of Kentucky Afield magazine, the official publication of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. He is a life-long hunter and angler, with a passion for smallmouth bass fishing

Somerset — They were totally impressed with the beauty of Lake Cumberland and completely unaware that the lake is lower than normal.

The group of young men had come to Burnside Marina from such far-flung places as Columbus, Ohio and Georgia. It was their first trip to this area. Several of them were not aware that the lake is more than 40 feet below normal until told by a Commonwealth Journal reporter.

The scene was a bachelor’s party just ended. The soon-to-be-wed man is Josh Jarrett. His home is in Georgia. Lake Cumberland Country was newground to him.

The bachelor’s party was an obvious success. Everyone in the group who talked with the reporter agreed that a good time was had by all. Big smiles creased every face and they all loved the lake.

“It’s fantastic!” said David O. White of Columbus, Ohio. “I’ll be back many times again!” he promised.

Even Jarrett, whose days as a single man are numbered, was impressed by Lake Cumberland.

“It was great!” he affirmed. “Yes,” he reiterated.

Bradd Birmingham, also of Columbus, agreed. “This is my first trip here. I came for the bachelor’s party.” He said even a small bump against their houseboat by another boat didn’t dim the fun of partying.

“We had a great, great time,” said Ryan Keller, another member of the partying group from Columbus. The only mild complaint came from Gregg Birmingham, who said the water was cold.

Many of the group reacted with amazement when told the place they were standing near the marina would be under nearly 40 feet of water when the lake returns to normal.

“I didn’t know the lake was low until sometime told me,” offered another member of the group. They were surprised when it was pointed out that the lake at normal level averages 90 feet deep and is 101 miles long with more than 1,200 miles of shoreline.

The 25 to 30 or maybe more in the bachelor’s party group mingled with hundreds of people using the lake in the Burnside area. They asked directions to other parts of the lake. Obviously, the wedding celebrants hadn’t seen enough of Lake Cumberland.

A lot of people were enjoying this first holiday weekend of summer.

“We had a good crowd Saturday. There was a better crowd Sunday and I expect a good crowd today,” said Gilbert Muse, shuttle driver at Burnside Marina. “It’s been a good weekend.” Muse was picking up visitors from parking areas and shuttling them up and down the steep incline to the marina complex.

“I think people understand,” observed Muse, responding to a question about how people are reacting to a lower-than-normal lake level. Lake Cumberland was lowered some 43 feet in January 2007 to take pressure off an unstable Wolf Creek Dam. A $309 million rehabilitation of the dam is under way.

Ralph Stanton of McCreary County and a fishing buddy who said he was shy around reporters’ cameras had been fishing since 6 a.m. Memorial Day. They docked their boat at General Burnside Island State Park about 10 a.m.

Stanton reached in the livewell of their boat and lifted out a largemouth bass that weighed about four pounds. It apparently was the largest and one of several good fish they caught.

“Fishing is better now than it ever was,” said Stanton’s buddy. “I’d say it’s twice as good (since the lake has been low).”

The golf course with its $7.5 million face-lift on General Burnside Island State Park was also drawing a crowd. The renovated facility opened Friday.

“I drove all the way down here from Fredericktown, Ohio, to play with Jeff (Ross),” said Bob Dickinson. “I played the old course here many, many times.”

“I loved this (new) course,” declared Ross, a Somerset resident. “It’s a little more difficult for a novice (like me) but it’s very challenging.”

Dempsey Logsdon of Somerset was boarding a golf cart nearby, ready for his first round.

“It’s fantastic,” said Logsdon. “I haven’t played it (until now) but everybody who has played it tells me it’s fantastic.”

Konnie Massey, a third-shift employee at Wal-Mart, and Randy Dobbs, a “hauler” for the Louisville Courier-Journal and a carrier for the Lexington Herald-Leader, were picnicking on General Burnside Island State Park.

“We came early for a cook-out and just to enjoy the weather,” said Massey. The smell of grilling hamburgers and steaks wafted in the holiday air.

Time passes fast when you’re having fun. It was nearing midday and the western sky was muddied with an approaching storm. Many vacationers were heading away from the park to make it home before dark.

The first summer holiday was ending, but real summer fun on Lake Cumberland is just beginning.

Corps: Lake will be raised as quickly as possible Summer boost will depend on conditions after grouting

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in a news release Friday said it anticipates raising the level of Lake Cumberland as quickly as conditions at Wolf Creek Dam permit.

“As soon as we reach the limit of at least one line of grout, we anticipate raising the lake level provided conditions at the (dam) remain stable and improving,” said Lt. Col. Bernard Lindstrom, commander of the Nashville District. "We know now our engineers were correct in diagnosing the problem, and we have the right solution," said Lindstrom. "That's the good news.”

The Nashville district engineer also noted that while possible, a lake raise initiated this far into the spring may be difficult to accomplish, based on historical rain patterns and flows in the region. Nevertheless, the Corps fully intends to make a determination regarding the lake level upon completion of the initial grout line and an analysis verifying the project’s stability, Lindstrom said.

The pre-Memorial Day news release said accelerated grouting operations continue at Wolf Creek Dam as the Corps and its contractor attempt to complete this initial phase of the rehabilitation work.

The initial phase is a grout curtain, one of two grout curtains being pumped into the earthen section of the dam. A grout curtain will be created on both sides of a planned concrete diaphragm, longer and deeper than a diaphragm inserted in the dam during the 1970s.

No official announcement has been made, but a Corps official told the Commonwealth Journal earlier this month that advertisements have been placed for a contractor to construct the diaphragm wall. The diaphragm will extend up to 100 feet in the bedrock below the dam and will reach the entire length of the earthen section.

Lt. Col. Steven J. Roemhildt, Lindstrom’s predecessor, told the Commonwealth Journal last summer that the current rehabilitation “will provide a permanent fix (of Wolf Creek Dam) until the end of the (21st) century.”

Lake Cumberland was lowered 43 feet below pool stage in January 2007 after an outside panel of experts classified Wolf Creek Dam in high risk of failure. An accelerated grouting program started immediately to launch a $309 million, seven-year rehabilitation of the dam.

Grout is a chemically enhanced liquid concrete pumped under pressure into the dam to fill cavities in the limestone karst. The cavities are blamed for a seepage problem that has plagued Wolf Creek Dam since Lake Cumberland was impounded 58 years ago.

Friday’s news release pointed out that as drilling has continued, contractors have discovered additional cavities in the dam’s rock foundation that require attention. Although 342 holes have been identified to close the initial grout line, this figure could increase due to the unpredictable nature of the foundation’s karst geology.

To date, 274 holes have been drilled and grouted. The grouting is approximately 80 percent complete and adequate financial resources remain available to keep the project moving ahead as scheduled, the news release noted.

Meanwhile, Corps officials are emphasizing that despite lower lake levels, Lake Cumberland is still the third largest lake in Kentucky, and recreational opportunities for fishing, camping, and water sports are still highly accessible.

To enhance recreational opportunities, the Corps' Resource Management Office has extended 10 Corps boat launching ramps, constructed an additional ramp at the Alligator I site, and extended courtesy floats at multiple locations. Additionally, the Commonwealth of Kentucky has extended or constructed more than 40 boat ramps.

The Corps also made significant improvements to the Kendall Camping Area and the Waitsboro Day Use Area, and installed a water supply line to sustain operations at the Wolf Creek Fish Hatchery.

This year’s mitigation plan includes further improvements to Waitsboro and Kendall, cultural resources surveillance and protection, and drift removal along the exposed Lake Cumberland shoreline.

Construction of Wolf Creek Dam was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1938 and the River Harbor Act of 1946 as part of a comprehensive plan to develop the Cumberland River Basin. However, because of World War II and other factors, construction was not completed until 1950 and the last of the power generators was installed in 1952.

Wolf Creek Dam is 5,736 feet long, 258 feet high and at pool stage impounds 6,089,000 acre-feet of water. The lake, at normal levels, extends from U.S. 127 in Russell County to near Corbin. It is 101 miles long with more than 1,200 miles of shoreline.

When pressed about the progress and the possible news that the lake level could come up as much as 10 feet this spring, Hendrickson said "Indicators are currently positive."