News

Nearly 500 residents and business owners attended a public meeting to discuss threats to a central Ohio lake following a report of potential catastrophic failure at its dam.

A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers report released last week said officials should immediately replace the 180-year-old earthen dam at Buckeye Lake or drain the recreational reservoir about 30 miles east of Columbus. The report said a dam failure could endanger the lives of 3,000 people.

Officials said the lake would be kept at lower winter levels for now, but The Columbus Dispatch reports many at Tuesday’s meeting asked that the lake be refilled to deeper levels so businesses and property values don’t suffer.

Emergency management officials are planning responses for a possible dam failure while the state evaluates the report.