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Kasich Committed To Replacing Faulty Dam
By: Associated Press
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Update 1:00 p.m. Gov. John Kasich says that work to replace a faulty dam at central Ohio’s Buckeye Lake will begin immediately.
Kasich met with state and local officials on Thursday after a report warned of potential catastrophic failure of the nearly 180-year-old earthen dam at the popular recreational lake about 30 miles east of Columbus.
Kasich’s office said the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will begin the necessary permitting and design work to replace the 4.1-mile dam.
It’s been weakened by several hundred homes built into it over time, along with docks, trees and utility lines. The report says a dam failure could endanger 3,000 people.
Locals say keeping the lake water low to reduce the risk would sink summer tourism. But Kasich says safety is the main concern.
Gov. John Kasich is meeting with state and local officials about central Ohio’s Buckeye Lake after a report warned of potential catastrophic failure of its dam.
It has been weakened by several hundred homes built into it over time, along with docks, trees and utility lines. The report says a dam failure could endanger 3,000 people in the area roughly 30 miles east of Columbus.
Officials must decide whether to build a new dam or drain or adjust the popular recreational reservoir. To reduce risk, they’ve kept the water at lower winter levels rather than letting it fill up.
Locals say continuing that would sink summer tourism and be devastating for the area’s marinas, restaurants and small businesses.
Kasich planned to give a statement after Thursday’s meeting.