Veterans Park Dam Removal

DESIGN / FEASIBILITY STUDY

In February of 2019, the project team of EcoGro, Ridgewater, and Stantec were hired by the city of Lexington’s Division of Environmental Services to create a feasibility study for the removal of a defunct low-head dam on West Hickman Creek in Veterans Park. This concrete impoundment had been circumvented by water cutting through the stream bank and around the dam. This bypassing meant water no longer flowed over it or was retained upstream. With the creek now more eroded and incised, this also presents a safety risk with walking and mountain bike trails above steep and unstable banks. Less dangerous but still concerning, sediment had built up on the upstream side of the dam and water was flowing at a much slower rate than was expected due to the water depth above the dam. Removing the concrete structure could also entail rapid release of sediment.

Project Partners

Funding Partners