MOBILE, Ala. – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District announced today that it has awarded the construction contract to repair long-term displaced stone and riprap on the Walter F. George Dam earthen embankment, which was damaged by Hurricane Michael in late 2018.
Construction is currently scheduled to begin on September 15, 2020 and is expected to last approximately eighteen months. During the construction period, visitors to the area should anticipate facility closures directly south of the dam, on both the Georgia and Alabama sides, including the fishing deck and the nearby restrooms. The nearby Franklin Landing Boat Ramp will remain open.
When Hurricane Michael hit in October 2018, the parks and other public recreation areas at Walter F. George Lake experienced only minor damage. The Walter F. George Dam, however, experienced a major displacement of the armor stone lining its upstream face. The destructive force of the hurricane also laid exposed the earthen embankment at 31 locations.
Walter F. George Lock will remain closed during the execution of this project. Visitors and residents should expect to see large hauling vehicles carrying heavy construction materials and equipment into the area beginning in June. For public safety reasons, areas where heavy construction materials and equipment are laid down will be closed to public access.
In preparation for the repair work, a water level draw down is planned during the autumn of 2020. This draw down is intended to bring the lake to elevation 186’ above mean sea level (msl) by September 15, 2020, or about 3’ below normal summer level. This level is expected to hold relatively steady for approximately six weeks. Accessibility at boat ramps around Walter F. George Lake may be affected during this time. Watercraft users are alerted that the planned draw down may also expose hazards below the water surface at locations previously safe to pass over.
Mobile District will provide further information on area accessibility later this summer, as the time for planned repair work approaches. For general information, please call the Walter F. George Resource Management Office at (229) 768-2516.
__________
Both Walter F. George Lake and Lake George W. Andrews offer a host of relaxing and sporting opportunities to the many thousands of people who visit these USACE recreation areas each year. Although these lakes were built to provide navigation and hydroelectric power, the emphasis is on family fun. Nestled on the Chattahoochee River in southwest Georgia with thirteen day-use parks and four campgrounds, both lakes are known for camping, fishing, hunting, and boating.
For more information, visit the Walter F. George Lake website @ go.usa.gov/xvbkZ and on Facebook @WalterFGeorgeLake, or call at (229) 768-2516.
# # #