CAMBRIDGE, OH - Water levels in Salt Fork Lake remain about a foot below normal pool while engineers with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) make repairs to the lake’s earthen dam. Park officials do not anticipate problems for boaters as a result of the lower water levels.
“Typically, spring rains keep the lake 2-3 feet above normal pool in April and May,” said Hal Harper, manager of Salt Fork State Park. “However, we are currently maintaining lower water levels while new monitoring equipment is installed in the dam’s base.”
Park maintenance staff discovered a seepage “boil” in the downstream toe of the dam in February, indicating a possible problem with the dam’s foundation. In order to relieve pressure and allow for additional monitoring and repairs to the dam, two of the lake’s drains were opened. As a result, water levels dropped to their current levels.
Park staff is monitoring the dam on a daily basis for any additional signs of trouble. The new monitoring equipment will allow engineers to gather detailed data and design a permanent repair to the dam structure. Once those permanent repairs are made, the lake drains will be closed and water levels will return to normal pool.
Salt Fork State Park is Ohio’s largest state park, with more than 20,000 acres, including the 3,000-acre lake. More than 1.8 million people visited the park last year to fish, boat, hike, golf, picnic, camp and stay overnight in the park’s resort lodge and cottages.