URA consultants warn Stevens Lake dam at Forest Park is failing; propose sediment testing and two repair options

Consultants briefing the Fort Gillem Urban Redevelopment Authority on Stevens Lake said the lake’s dam is in “really, really poor condition” and recommended targeted sediment testing and a conditional assessment before deciding whether to renovate the dam or breach it.

Jim Harden, a dam and surface‑water specialist with Walden Ashworth, told the authority that the dam’s riser structure is not functioning and that “there’s only 1 foot above the normal pool to the top of dam,” creating little freeboard and active erosion on the downstream slope. Harden said he saw concrete pipe sections displaced and trees growing on slopes that mask seepage and make inspection difficult. “The dam is already starting to fail,” he said.

The authority’s environmental consultant with OASIS said staff lack data on what contaminants, if any, are in the lake sediment and recommended sampling before any large‑scale action. “I don’t know,” the OASIS consultant said of contaminant levels. “I’m gonna say I don’t know,” and proposed collecting five to six sediment samples by boat for laboratory testing to check for lead, PCBs, VOCs or other compounds that would affect disposal and remediation strategy.

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