Shoreline work at MWCD

You may remember that last fall I ran information from Muskingum Watershed about shoreline stabilization projects at several lakes. Here's information from them on how the work went:

As spring and summer arrive at the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) reservoirs, visitors will notice that shoreline projects at many lake locations have been completed over the past few weeks.

"Nearly two miles of shoreline has been protected and restored at four reservoirs this winter after the completion of more than 20 individual stabilization projects that cost more than $1.2 million, according to Boris E. Slogar, MWCD chief engineer. 

“The shorelines have been eroding for many years and this winter the MWCD began the most ambitious program in the conservancy district’s history to protect the shorelines,” Slogar said. “Even more important, this is an ongoing program that is part of the routine maintenance of the reservoirs to ensure their continued effective performance for years to come.”

 The MWCD projects were completed at:

 Atwood Reservoir – 11 projects at $399,157

Charles Mill Reservoir – 4 projects at $201,300

Seneca Reservoir – 7 projects at $365,957

Tappan Reservoir – 4 projects at $255,795

 Some of the projects were completed by MWCD staff members and others were completed by private contractors that were awarded contracts for the work through the public bidding process.

 The MWCD also removed more than 1,000 tires, furniture and other debris from all of its reservoirs during the winter months.

 The MWCD announced last year that nearly 500 individual sites are in need of varying amounts of shoreline improvements. A team of MWCD engineering staff members has been using innovative mapping and aerial photographic technology to review the 300 total miles of shoreline at the reservoirs. The work that has been identified would cover about 24 miles worth of shoreline at the 10 MWCD lakes.

 The work is paid for through the MWCD’s funds collected from property owners in the Muskingum River Watershed who receive identified benefits from the Amendment to the Official Plan of the MWCD that calls for maintenance and rehabilitation in the system of flood-reduction and water conservation reservoirs and dams in the region. Two of the projects – one each at Seneca and Tappan reservoirs – received grant funding from the State of Ohio’s Clean Ohio Grant Fund program.

 Planning already is under way for projects for the 2011-12 winter season, with the goal of another 20 to 30 projects to be completed. Projects likely will include work at Clendening, Piedmont and Pleasant Hill reservoirs, as well as work at other reservoirs to be done by MWCD crews.

For more information about the MWCD, visit www.mwcd.org.