Dam in Buckeye Lake to be replaced

 Ohio governor committed to rebuild the Buckeye Lake dam to adress the significant flooding risks associated with the aging embankment, which has been showing signs of decay during the past decades. The dam replacement will require lowering of the lake water level and is estimated to take five years to complete. 

Buckeye lake dam was completed in the 1830's, to become part of Ohio's canal system, nevertheless following no dam safety standards. Today, much of the material making up the toe of the dam has been removed for land development purposes significantly compromising the embankment's stability. Even though temporary repairs have been made over the past decades, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers report raises serious concerns on the dam safety and stability of the embankment. According to the report, the "4.1-mile dam has serious deficiencies and potential responses include replacing the dam, draining the lake and evacuating up to 3,000 people".

Ohio governor John Kasich admits that "problems have been ignored for decades and ignored by previous administrations". His initiative involves replacement of the dam, a project estimated to cost between $120 million and $150 million and taking nearly 5 years to complete. During this time, water level of the lake will be significantly lowered and residents may be required to relocate away from the lakefront. According to the governor, the dam replacement will probably not require removal of existing homes. 

Watch the following video released from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources with the consequences of a possible dam breach.