Gordon Encourages Attendance At Public Meetings On Center Hill Repairs

November 30, 2007, SMITHVILLE – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has scheduled public meetingS regarding repairs at Center Hill Dam, and U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon is encouraging residents to attend.

“It’s important for residents to know how repairs at Center Hill Dam will affect them,” said Gordon. “I hope people will go to these meetings and get answers to their questions about the work.”

Meetings have been scheduled in DeKalb, Putnam and Smith counties as follows:

• Dec. 3 in Liberty - Temperance Hall Community Center, 2760 Temperance Hall Road;
• Dec. 4 in Buffalo Valley- Buffalo Valley Community Center, 2717 Buffalo Valley School Road;
• Dec. 6 in Carthage - Agricultural Center, 159 Ag Center Lane.

All meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. Flood inundation maps will be available at 4 p.m. in Liberty and Buffalo Valley. Maps will be available at 3 p.m. in Carthage. The maps show an estimate of what area would flood based on various failure scenarios at Center Hill Dam.

Construction on Center Hill Dam was completed in 1951. Over time, limestone and sinkholes have taken a toll on the dam and caused seepage.

The rehabilitation plan recommends installing permanent cutoff walls and supplemental grouting into the main embankment and saddle dam foundations to stop the seepage. The plan also recommends replacing the powerhouse station service generator to enhance flow for water quality downstream of the dam.

In August, Gordon went to the dam to meet with representatives from the Corps and local officials about the possible impacts on nearby communities.

“The Corps tells me the dam is in no immediate danger of failure, but these repairs are necessary to ensure the continued safety of residents,” said Gordon. “I have urged the Corps to make sensible decisions and weigh the impact on all residents, including those who live upstream of the dam.

“Residents living in Putnam County depend on water from Center Hill Lake for fire protection and drinking water. We have to make sure we don’t compromise their safety during the rehabilitation of the dam.”