As west Rolla develops, the area around Blues Lake along Martin Springs Drive is on the forefront of that growth. And, as more development takes place and more concrete and asphalt is placed, the increase of groundwater run-off becomes a concern.
That’s the reason city workers have been working to improve the Blues Lake Dam.
A project that began three weeks ago, city crews with help from Maggi Construction have been working to reinforce the dam.
“There are a couple of projects going on there,” said City Engineer Steve Hargis. “We’re putting in a new spillway, reinforcing the dam, and we’re also running a new sewer line from Royal Canin. With the old sewer line we’d have to pump it out. This sewer line will use gravity,” he said.
As crews began work on the earthen dam, they created a diversion ditch to lower the water level in Blues Lake by seven feet to allow access to lower levels of the dam.
Crews on Friday were placing gabions — large metal baskets filled with rock — for reinforcement behind the dam, and they will add another couple of feet to the top of the dam, Hargis said.
“We’re going to add a couple of feet to the dam and slope the back side a little bit so it’s easier to maintain,” Hargis said. “We want to get it to the point where it can take a four-inch rain without any problem.”
Hargis estimated the cost of the improvement to Blues Lake to cost $100,000, which is being shared by the city (63 percent) and Developer Jack Dietzmann (37 percent.)
“It’s based on acreage,” Hargis said. “There are about 200 acres out there and those are the percentages.
The sewer line will cost $50,000.
Hargis said as the area is developed, the city will recoup that cost as it charges developers for the stormwater improvements.
Hargis estimated work on the dam to be completed in two more weeks. It will take another month to complete the sanitation sewer from Royal Canin, the dog food factory atop Bridge School Road.
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As west Rolla develops, the area around Blues Lake along Martin Springs Drive is on the forefront of that growth. And, as more development takes place and more concrete and asphalt is placed, the increase of groundwater run-off becomes a concern.
That’s the reason city workers have been working to improve the Blues Lake Dam.
A project that began three weeks ago, city crews with help from Maggi Construction have been working to reinforce the dam.
“There are a couple of projects going on there,” said City Engineer Steve Hargis. “We’re putting in a new spillway, reinforcing the dam, and we’re also running a new sewer line from Royal Canin. With the old sewer line we’d have to pump it out. This sewer line will use gravity,” he said.
As crews began work on the earthen dam, they created a diversion ditch to lower the water level in Blues Lake by seven feet to allow access to lower levels of the dam.
Crews on Friday were placing gabions — large metal baskets filled with rock — for reinforcement behind the dam, and they will add another couple of feet to the top of the dam, Hargis said.
“We’re going to add a couple of feet to the dam and slope the back side a little bit so it’s easier to maintain,” Hargis said. “We want to get it to the point where it can take a four-inch rain without any problem.”
Hargis estimated the cost of the improvement to Blues Lake to cost $100,000, which is being shared by the city (63 percent) and Developer Jack Dietzmann (37 percent.)
“It’s based on acreage,” Hargis said. “There are about 200 acres out there and those are the percentages.
The sewer line will cost $50,000.
Hargis said as the area is developed, the city will recoup that cost as it charges developers for the stormwater improvements.
Hargis estimated work on the dam to be completed in two more weeks. It will take another month to complete the sanitation sewer from Royal Canin, the dog food factory atop Bridge School Road.
