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Analysis: ODNR drops the scare bomb




BUCKEYE LAKE – Faces were grim Wednesday afternoon as seven long-time community leaders waited around a conference table at the Buckeye Lake Library for ODNR’s tele-conference on the Buckeye Lake dam to begin.

A promised face-to-face meeting with top ODNR officials and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) project team had been cancelled. At the last minute, the conference access number and password were changed. Participants now had to be on ODNR’s list to gain telephone access. ODNR’s total control over the release of the report and its subsequent discussion was obvious.

Everyone knew the report would be devastating to the Buckeye Lake communities. Somehow, The Dispatch had received an advance copy of the report and posted an on-line report before most interested parties received their copies. The subhewad blasted, “U.S. Army Corps of Engineer sayd replace dam or drain lake.” The Beacon asked Wednesday morning to be included on the electronic distribution. We were told to access it on ODNR’s Division of Engineering’s website. It still wasn’t there minutes before the 3 p.m. tele-conference started.

ODNR Director James Zehringer and Mark Anthony, Senior Policy Advisor, presented ODNR’s comments. Anthony repeatedly referenced “new data” and “new site reconnaissance” in the assessment, but a quick review shows the assessment relies most heavily on past studies rather than on new data. Much is made of the approximately 370 houses built into the embankment though most of the homes have been there for many years. The vast majority of new construction only occurs when an existing structure is removed.

None of the earlier studies conducted by ODNR-contracted private engineering firms came close to the conclusion in this assessment – “the likelihood of embankment failure is high based on adverse conditions existing and occurring frequently at and above normal pool, posing significant risks to the public.”

Two USACE assessment team members speaking focused almost exclusively on what they called the near dam failures in 1968 and 1990. In both cases, sand bags were used to support the dam, primarily to prevent overtopping during major storm events. Neither mentioned the installation of the Seller’s Point spillway in the early 1990’s that makes overtopping highly unlikely. It was like dam history stopped at 1990.

The focus of the assessment is more on observed general deficiencies as opposed to specific data-based deficiencies. At one point, Zehringer stated, “Seepage is our biggest concern.” But nowhere does the assessment quantify the number or size of seeps or their specific location.

He also acknowledged that it could take “4, 5, 6 years” to complete repairs which could make Buckeye Lake the “crown jewel of our inland lakes.” At one point Zehringer said the money is in place to do the job, but later clarified that the money to do the engineering is in place. He told the legislators taking part in the teleconference that ODNR will need their support to secure project funding.

When State Senator Jay Hottinger asked about the next steps, Zehringer said ODNR would be “announcing our way forward in two weeks.” He added that a website would be dedicated to the project.

While Anthony emphasized that the gate will NOT be closed to keep the lake at winter pool, he stated, “The lake is not closed.” Water volume will be about 50 percent less at winter pool, but the area covered by water will only be reduced by about 16 percent. “It is just different,” he added.

ODNR Parks Chief Gary Obermiller claimed that a couple of boat ramps may still be usable to launch boats at winter pool. He said ODNR is prepared to extend ramps further into the lake so trailers don’t get stuck in the mud.

Zehringer said they could take advantage of the low water levels to do more dredging and remove hazards like tree stumps. He didn’t explain how dredges would be able to move around the lake at low water levels.

Representative Bill Hayes asked how ODNR plans to address all the angry lake residents. “They are going to feel devastated,” he said. Zehringer said ODNR would provide someone if Hayes wanted to do a public meeting. “We are going to continue to communicate this,” he said.

Though Zehringer concluded his comments stating, “We’re open to input,” the words and tone of the tele-conference don’t support it. For example, a decision will “be announced.” No public comment sessions were discussed or scheduled.

Communication manager John Wisse’s reply to a letter from a Buckeye Lake resident further demonstrates that belief. “ODNR will soon make decisions regarding interim risk reduction measures and announce those at that time; we are getting community input at present on how to proceed. When these decisions are made, they will be announced and shared publicly as well.”

ODNR’s actions in recent weeks refute any professed interest in actually considering public comments. For example, Village of Hebron officials were not told about the tele-conference nor invited to participate, even though parts of Hebron are in the claimed inundated zone should the dam fail. Mostly unspoken, though Anthony gets very close to demonstrating his impatience with concerns raised by residents, is ODNR’s determination and belief that this time they are going to do it their way.

The Buckeye Lake Library group didn’t ask any questions since they had very little time to review the assessment. The group is organizing an informal steering committee to coordinate first the evaluation of the assessment and then residents’ response to it. Some of the members have been involved in the dam repair discussions for more than 20 years. Several live on the dam and their daily observations don’t match the level of deterioration claimed in this assessment compared to the previous technical evaluations.

Group members are Kreig Babbert, Buckeye Lake Area Civic Association and West Bank Homeowners Association; Merv Bartholow, Buckeye Lake for Tomorrow co-founder; Ron Craig, Buckeye Lake Area Civic Association president; Dave Levacy, Fairfield County Commissioner and Buckeye Lake Marina owner; Dave Luttenberger, Save the Lake; Charles Prince, BLASST and Buckeye Lake for Tomorrow; Tim Ryan, Buckeye Lake Area Chamber of Commerce president; retired Judge Jon Spahr, Save the Lake; and Lisa Stewart, realtor and Buckeye Lake Area Chamber of Commerce vice president.



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