Preparing

Potential contractors visit the Hills area near our airport. This is the "borrow area" where the "fill" for rebuilding the dam will come from.

Preparing

An area near the HAH airport site will be used as the "borrow area" for the material to be used to build the new dam. To ensure it will be dry enough to use as needed, a drainage area was created during the winter months. The orange fencing alerted members to the presence of the ditch.

Preparing

Potential contractors visit the dam site.

The Dam - March 2016

The Dam - March 2016

The Dam - March 2016

The Emergency Spillway - March 2016

Getting ready

The road for the boat ramp will go here. Trees were cut early to prevent possible nesting by Indiana bats, an endangered bat species.

Getting ready

The road for the boat ramp will go here. Trees were cut early to prevent possible nesting by Indiana bats, an endangered bat species.

Getting ready

A gate was installed to allow the construction traffic to enter and leave the hills to prevent wear and tear on the Hills' front entrance.

Getting ready

Driveway for construction traffic.

Getting Ready

Signs warn approaching drivers of the construction area.

Getting ready

Construction delivery.

Getting ready

Signs warn approaching drivers of the construction area.

Getting ready.

Stop signs are set up.

Getting ready

Traffic barrels are added.

And so it begins.....

Igel construction begins scraping off the top soil on the dam. This top soil will be used later when grass is seeded on the finished dam.

And so it begins.

Igel construction begins scraping off the top soil on the dam. This top soil will be used later when grass is seeded on the finished dam.

And so it begins.

Igel construction begins scraping off the top soil on the dam. This top soil will be used later when grass is seeded on the finished dam.

The top soil scraped from the dam will be retained for reuse later. Once all of it has been removed from the dam, it will be seeded. Straw will be added to reduce soil erosion.

The top soil scraped from the dam will be retained for reuse later. Once all of it has been removed from the dam, it will be seeded. Straw will be added to reduce soil erosion.

The removal of top soil continues.

Preparing the site

Preparing for the arrival of the construction trailer.

Preparing the site

Preparing for the arrival of the construction trailer.

Preparing the site

Preparing for the arrival of the construction trailer.

Igel Construction - trailer/office

Top soil and grass removed

The top soil and grass removed from the dam will be reused on the new dam.

"Borrow Area"

Adjacent to the HAH air strip, the clay in the borrow area will be used to build up the dam. The drainage area was built over the winter to help ensure the clay there was dry enough to be used.

Sand was delivered

This sand and rock combo will be used primarily in association with the "toe" drain. This drain will run underground along the base of the dam to Kessler Swamp to wick away any ground water that occurs.

Fill 'er up

This Igel truck delivers gas to the construction vehicles.

Lindsey Walker, the lead 2LMN project engineer at the site points out the next steps in the project.

The aqua-colored pipes will be used to form the toe drain as described in an earlier picture.

The Bridge

The bridge from the current dam to the principal spillway was constructed to create safe passageway for workers to use as the lake's drain valve is replaced.

Sheep's Foot Compactor

This vehicle will compact the clay as its added.

Fencing

Fencing was added around the playground and other areas for the safety of the community.

The Borrow Area

A road was built for construction vehicles so that they can access the "borrow" area. This area will provide the clay needed for the dam.

Borrow area prepared

The borrow area is prepared so that work there can start soon.

Water has been removed

Water has been removed from the original drain basin in preparation for the new dam.

Bridge to the spillway

This bridge was constructed so that workers have a safe way to access the spillway...a wood fence was added to the perimeter of the spillway and will remain post-construction.

Just-in-case pump moved in

A high-output emergency pump is moved to the top of the dam in the event of large amounts of rain because the drain valve for the lake has been closed. (see earlier picture)

Just-in-case drain

In the event the emergency pump is needed, this turquoise pipe will be used to drain the water away from the lake.

Preparing for the "toe" drain

Workers move sand and rock to areas where the "toe" drain will be installed. This drain will be installed along the base of the dam to wick away moisture that naturally occurs.

Trucks dumping sand

Three trucks took turns getting loaded up with sand/rock and moving it to the site for the "toe" drain.

Toe drain pipe

Prep for "toe" drain

Initial dig of "toe" drain

Testing instruments

These portable instruments will be used throughout the site to test for clay compaction and moisture levels during construction.

The coffer dam (shown in front right) was built to keep the drain valve basin dry while the drain is removed, and the concrete is demolished. The area will be filled with clay during construction.

Concrete head wall for outlet drain has been removed.

Michael Brobst, an Igel foreman, talks with one of his crew members via walkie-talkie.

For the new dam, the outlet pipe will be extended and a new outlet basin will be constructed.

Water drained from the outlet basin goes through these silt-filtering bags first to prevent silt from dumping into Kessler Swamp.

This truck delivers water to the site to ensure that the clay has the necessary moisture content.

Spraying water on the clay to keep it at the required moisture level. The small bulldozer and other equipment is equipped with GPS (located on top of yellow vertical poles on the bulldozer) so that the crew can see the site as it works.