Photo courtesy of Cleveland Metroparks
Crews in Cleveland, Ohio, are performing a complete restoration of the Hinkley Lake Dam.
For almost a century, the Hinckley Lake Dam has served area residents by providing recreation and helping mitigate flooding. Now, crews in Cleveland, Ohio, are performing a complete restoration of the historic barrier.
"The Hinckley Lake dam dates back to 1927, when it allowed for the creation of Hinckley Lake," explained Sean McDermott, Cleveland Metroparks chief planning and design officer. "The dam rehabilitation is required to meet modern standards and provide improved protection in the event of severe flooding. More specifically, the earthen dam at the north end of the lake is being raised to add additional storage capacity to the lake, and in turn provide improved downstream protection in the event of severe flooding. The excess silt removal within the lake will allow for proper depths for recreational activities."
Photo courtesy of Cleveland Metroparks
The dam rehabilitation is expected to cost $9 to $10 million and is funded by Cleveland Metroparks capital budget. Cleveland Metroparks has been coordinating with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, along with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Army Corps of Engineers throughout the project.
"Hinckley Lake has been attracting visitors for nearly 100 years to enjoy fishing, swimming, paddle sports, hiking and more," said McDermott. "The property was one of the first major land acquisitions for Cleveland Metroparks, following its establishment in 1917. Last year alone, Hinckley Reservation attracted approximately 800,000 recreational visitors."
The 87-acre manmade lake will remain closed throughout the project's construction; however, the surrounding Hinckley Reservation will remain open. Safety plans and procedures have been developed for both the public and the contractor. The work zone has been fenced and secured with full-time surveillance.
"Cleveland Metroparks has been planning the dam restoration project for more than a decade, and we are thrilled to expect to complete and reopen the lake prior to its 100th anniversary. Cleveland Metroparks is self-funding this project and working with Great Lakes Construction as a construction manager. Through the partnership we have established affordable means and methods to make this possible."
Great Lakes Construction Co., founded in 1948, is a premier heavy civil construction firm with a rich legacy spanning more than 75 years. Since 2000 its corporate headquarters has been in Hinckley Township, only a few miles from the project site.
"The company's history and connection to the area make them an excellent partner on this project," said McDermott. "Great Lakes Construction has a very successful history of civil infrastructure projects. They have been a partner in the project for construction for six years, via construction manager at-risk delivery."
According to McDermott, the biggest construction obstacles involve working in an active river environment and being subjected to the impacts of weather.
"This presents challenges which require significant planning in advance and a level of patience throughout the construction. In general, we have worked with an experienced contractor to develop methods to reduce risk."
Already, the site has been secured, the lake has been drained and water control features have been established. McDermott said the temporary draining of Hinckley Lake was a significant undertaking.
"We recorded years of data leading up to the project through modifying and testing lake levels to understand how the lake would react. Data helped us understand the impact of rainfall on the lake basin throughout all seasons, and we used that data to plan for construction. We used rain gauges and clocks and draw down periods to achieve the level necessary."
Work began in fall 2023 and is expected to be completed by summer 2026.
"We are preparing to begin work on the reconstruction of the dam spillway, as concrete work and mass concrete work were able to be performed throughout the winter months."
Although excavation is not a huge part of the rehabilitation, reinforcing the dam is crucial to the project.
"There is very little excavation on this project," said McDermott. "However, the reinforcement of the earthen dam includes modern dam design aspects that are not seen when construction is complete but are vital to the long-term functionality of the dam. These include a sand drainage layer, underdrains and monitoring boxes."
Rehabilitating the 150-ft.-wide concrete spillway to meet modern standards and provide improved flood protection has required a great deal of planning.
"Working with our engineer, Michael Baker International, we have developed a design for the lake and dam system to pass the probable maximum flood, which is the standard of design in Ohio."
Starting to raise the earthen embankment will be another significant milestone, scheduled for later this year.
Photo courtesy of Cleveland Metroparks
"We are harvesting clay from a borrow site in Hinckley Reservation, that's within one mile of the dam, and then filling the borrow site with dredge material from the lake."
McDermott said approximately 30,000 cu. yds. of dirt will be moved during construction. A variety of heavy equipment is being used to carry out the work.
As for the effects of the elements, especially during freezing temperatures, the team was prepared.
Our advance planning helped anticipate expected impacts due to weather," said McDermott, who added the project is rewarding, despite the challenges that lie ahead.
"We respect the historical significance of the lake as one of Cleveland Metroparks first major acquisitions, and are honored to play a role in its legacy and complete this project to ensure Hinckley Reservation and Hinckley Lake remain a destination for another century to come." CEG
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