Dam restoration

The picture shows the deteriorated vertical rock wall that will be replaced.

More work is being done to restore the Civilian Conservation Corps dam at the spring pool at Roaring River. Two years ago a major project was completed to stabilize the areas of the dam adjacent to the stream that had deteriorated badly. This work also involved driving sheet piling on the spring side of the dam and grouting between the sheet piling and the original dam.

The purpose of this part of the work was to seal leaks through the dam. Currently the Department of Natural Resources let out a contract for work to be done on renovating the stone work on the rest of the dam. Historic Architect, Sandra Walther, from DNR State Parks Division, will be overseeing the work.

Over the years, water has leaked from the spring pool eroding the fill inside the dam and also, as a result of this water freezing and thawing, has deteriorated portions of the vertical walls on the hatchery side of the dam. During the new project rock will be mined from the same vein of rock (located near the horse stable on Highway F) that was used by the CCC to do all the stone work in the park. All the top pavers on the walk way on the dam will be taken up. Voids under these rocks will be filled in with cherty clay and crushed limestone. Broken or unusable rock will be replaced with newly mined rock and the walkway pavers will be replaced. There are also a few cap stones adjacent to the spring pool that have deteriorated and will be replaced. Several areas of vertical rock wall on the hatchery side of the dam will be rebuilt with newly mined stonework.

Another part of the project will include replacing the wood and metal railings around the dam and walkways with metal pipe railings similar to what was originally used by the CCC. Work started Aug. 24 and the goal is to complete the project by Dec. 31. Work will only be done on one third of the dam at a time so the public will always have access to the spring and portions of the spring pool. Along with the project that was done two years ago the new project will nearly complete restoration of the dam.

Previous to either of these projects it looked as though portions of the dam adjacent to the river could fail at any time. Now the river side of the dam is very stable. With the new work in progress that DNR is doing the CCC-era dam will last many more years.