City engineering staff and the consultant Lampre/Nierenson briefed the council on Jan. 9 about an inspection of the Veterans Lake (City Lake) dam adjacent to the golf course and next steps for repairs.

Consultant Chad Thompson said the dam, built in 1953, has been inspected about every three years and was classified a high-hazard dam after recent hydraulic modeling. The classification requires a higher freeboard; Thompson said that equates to roughly three additional feet of elevation compared with the original design. To avoid major excavation the recommended plan includes building a short structural wall adjacent to the existing trail and raising the trail, replacing and regrading riprap along the face of the dam and stabilizing the downstream channel and trail approaches.

Why it matters: a high-hazard classification means that a dam breach could damage downstream infrastructure or homes and triggers engineering and emergency-action plan requirements. Lampre/Nierenson has prepared an emergency-action plan and inspection report for state review and is preparing preliminary construction documents and a grant application for SMAC (stormwater) funds through the county.

What’s next: staff plans to submit grant applications at the end of the month, return to the council with a resolution of support, and pursue design and construction funding. Consultants described design details aimed at limiting excavation and cost — one option uses a standardized wall form and a keyway foundation to reduce overall earthwork and expense.