Interim Arkabutla Dam repairs near completion; Study underway for long-term solutions
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers this week announced it is nearing completion of temporary repairs needed when a depression was found near the toe of the dam in March 2023. At the same time, Corps of Engineers caution that it will still take a decade or more before “Arkabutla becomes Arkabutla” once again.
When the depression was found in 2023, an emergency declaration was made and the water level was lowered to a level of about 204 feet for safety reasons.
Since then, the Corps has made its temporary repairs that should be completed by the end of the month. These measures include adding piezometers to increase real-time monitoring of groundwater pressure and installing relief wells to relieve water pressure and to allow excess water to be diverted safely.
A Dam Safety Modification Study is also being done that looks at the options for long-term solutions, such as structural repairs, modifications, or operational changes, to address the issues at the Dam.
The study is expected to be done in 2025. Once the study is complete and the permanent risk reduction solution is identified, final design and construction will begin.
Erin Hern with the Corps of Engineers’ Vicksburg District office said residents and visitors to Arkabutla continue to ask about when the lake can be back to what is was like before the depression was found in the dam. Hern said the long-term fix is still several years away.
“We have to get funding secured, and then we can start the bid process, and then the construction process,” Hern said. “That’s why we put a range of how long we thought it would take. It’s hard to say how long that will really take, simply because, again, it’s, it’s a hurry up and wait kind of game.”
A plan has to be determined and then the cost of the plan determined. Then, the proposal needs to go through channels all the way up to Congress for approval before construction can even start. The complete process can take between 9-12 years.
In the meantime, Hern said safety remains a top priority with lake Staff and additional personnel are monitoring the situation at Arkabutla Dam for any changes.
Highway 51 Landing provides boating access into the Coldwater River above Arkabutla Dam and will remain the only open boat ramp at Arkabutla Lake. Camping and other recreational use of the Arkabutla Lake area remain open, except for day use and fee use areas directly downstream of the dam.
Other recreational activities at Arkabutla Lake will continue during this time such as the annual archery hunt, Outdoor Recreation Day, and MS Wildlife’s Truck or Treat in October, the physically challenged hunt in December, youth waterfowl hunt, youth squirrel hunt, and Bald Eagle survey in January, youth raccoon hunt in February, and more.
