Eagle Creek Erosion Repairs Coming

(posted Dec 13)

The Department of Public Works Board approved a $1,148,500 contract for Calumet Civil Contractors to perform the Eagle Creek Shoreline Stabilization project. The project area runs from Rick's Boat Yard Cafe to the Eagle Creek Dam. The project should take about 180 days to complete once work begins.

Marvin Baker of the DPW said the bid is about 32% lower than the engineer's estimate of $1.6 million.
Bill Bowman of the DPW told the board members at the December 10 meeting that the reservoir is used for flood control and is owned by the DPW.

"We bought all of that area from Rick's Boat Yard to the dam as part of the original construction, but the reservoir right now is eating its way toward Dandy Trail; much longer Dandy Trail will be part of the reservoir."

Kit Werbe, DPW public information officer said "the property in this area was purchased when the Flood Control Reservoir Project was being built." She said the DPW can lower the reservoir now to do repairs, but a pre-construction meeting is necessary to determine the exact dates when to lower the reservoir.

"The reservoir is already down a little due to the need to lower to a winter level for migratory birds and then a lack of rain, until recently. We expect this recent rain to raise it a little, but not much."

Werbe said part of the process includes notifying concerned parties of the dates when the water will be lowered. "We do not want to keep the water level down any longer than absolutely necessary."