COLUMBUS, OH - Water levels at Jackson Lake State Park will soon be lowered while contractors working for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) perform much-needed improvements to the lake's dam, spillway and drain.
ODNR plans to repair the lake's currently inoperable drain mechanism, expand the spillway and strengthen the earthen portion of the dam in order to bring it up to current safety standards.
"As a result of the inoperable drain valve, there was no annual draw down last year at the lake," said Ty Campbell, Jackson Lake State Park manager. "Since the dam and spillway were also in very poor condition, we decided to make all necessary improvements within one project - impacting the park users only once."
In order to accomplish these significant tasks, the lake's water level will be lowered, beginning sometime after November 1. This draw down is expected to take about two weeks, depending on the weather. The project should be completed by next spring.
A pre-bid public meeting was held September 19 to outline parameters of the project. ODNR will continue to update local residents and businesses about the project as work progresses throughout the fall and winter.
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For Further Information Contact:
Jerry Reed, ODNR Division of Engineering
(614) 265-6978
-or-
Jane Beathard, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6860