A report compiled by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has identified serious problems with the Buckeye Lake Dam in the US state of Ohio, and has said it represents a significant risk to the public.
The report recommends draining the lake and replacing the dam, as it says that a failure of the structure could endanger approximately 3000 people who live and work in the dam’s vicinity.
The stability of the dam has been weakened by the development of homes and other infrastructure in the area, the report states. It recommends immediate and long-term steps be taken to prevent a catastrophic failure.
According to local media reports, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) will make a decision within the next two weeks on a long-term course of action. In the meantime, water levels behind the dam are to remain low.
The dam, which was originally built between 1825-1832, failed in 1834 and was subsequently repaired. It then sustained near failures in 1968, 1990, 2003 and 2006, according to the ODNR.
