The U.S. Forest Service launched the planning process for the Crane Lake Dam Safety & Rehabilitation Project at an open house in Arcadia Valley, Mo., on Sept. 26.
The following information is offered as an update on the status of the planning effort.
The Crane Lake Dam Safety & Rehabilitation Project is needed because there are structural deficiencies, as well as seismic, hydrologic and hydraulic concerns with Crane Lake’s dam, a Mark Twain National Forest facility located in Iron County, Mo.
The existing dam cannot pass 100 percent of the probable maximum flood (PMF), a requirement for all federal dams with a rating of high hazard potential.
After review of the nine feasible engineering alternatives that could address the dam’s deficiencies, Mark Twain National Forest’s supervisor identified Alternative E as the proposed action based on cost, reduction of downstream risk, socio-economic and recreational benefits, and ecosystem health and resiliency.