ROCKVILLE, MD-Repairs
to the Lake Needwood Dam in Rock Creek Regional Park have been underway
for about eight weeks and as the Montgomery County Department of Parks
prepares for a grand opening celebration of the new Lake Needwood
Boathouse, the grout curtain installation project for the dam is
proceeding well.
“We are in good shape to respond to any
large storm event that could occur this hurricane season,” said
Montgomery County Department of Parks Construction Manager Andy Frank.
“We have reduced the number of paths water can flow through below the
dam and will continue to do so as the grout curtain installation
progresses; we have a greater understanding of how the dam will respond
to high water, better monitoring equipment in place and personnel
regularly observing dam conditions.”
Focus on the dam’s condition and rehabilitation over the past 11 months has helped to prepare for potential storms this summer.
In late March, a specialty contractor
employed by the Department of Parks began installing a grout curtain
below the Lake Needwood Dam to reduce seepage through the dam’s rock
foundation. Thus far, the grout curtain installation has supported the
department’s theories about how water is migrating through the
fractured rock below the dam. Significant fractures on the dam’s
foundation have been found and injected with large amounts of grout,
particularly on the left side of the dam where the leak occurred last
summer. The construction project has allowed contractors to locate and
address potential seepage routes and the project is progressing within
budget.
“Although some of the work might take a
little longer than anticipated, the contractor continues to work
diligently and our consultant is confident that ongoing work will not
jeopardize the dam’s ability to withstand a large storm,” added Frank.
This first phase of the overall remedial
measures program initiated for the dam-the installation of the grout
curtain-is expected to take approximately two more months to complete,
with the second phase occurring later this summer. As a result of the
project, hiking or crossing over the dam is prohibited. However, public
access to the park and the Lake Needwood boat rentals are available by
using the main park entrances on Needwood or Avery roads. Boat rental
season opened up at Lake Needwood on May 5 and the new and completely
renovated boathouse is now open for business too. Beginning this week,
May 30, boat rentals are available Wednesday through Sunday.
“This Memorial Day weekend business at the boathouse was booming,” said Lake Needwood Boathouse Manager Kevin Van Scoyk.
On Saturday, June 9, boating, biking and
fishing fans will enjoy a celebration for the new Lake Needwood
Boathouse during the Department of Parks’ grand opening event and in
conjunction with Hudson Trail Outfitters Boat and Bike Demo Day at Rock
Creek Regional Park that same day. From 11:00 am – 4:00 pm the
Department of Parks will celebrate the new Lake Needwood Boathouse with
chances to win FREE park naturalist-led pontoon boat tours, reduced
rates on boat rentals, updates on the Lake Needwood Dam repair project,
giveaways, food and fun.
For more on the Department of Parks Grand Opening of the New Lake Needwood Boathouse see www.MontgomeryParks.org.