Forest Service Provides Update About Crane Lake, Seeks Public Input on the Arcadia South Project

Arcadia, Mo. (KFMO) - The Crane Lake Dam Project has seen its fair share of twists and turns, but forward progress is being made now.  

Two USDA Forest Service engineers are preparing a technical report to capture the conceptual designs and cost estimates they believe would work to address the dam’s structural and hydraulic deficiencies. All designs being considered will meet the end goal - a safe and affordable dam that will protect downstream neighbors and infrastructure.

Earlier this summer, the A&E firm hired to produce an engineering design for Crane Lake dam confirmed it was unable to finish the job. The original design reached the 65% review phase, but it was determined not to be a viable option for the site. The company produced four additional conceptual designs, but those came in with an estimated $25-$32 million price tag.

"The Forest Service contracting officer formally cancelled the design contract this fall after the A&E firm turned over surveys, analysis documents, and drawings that it had completed and been paid for by the agency,” explained Becky Ewing, District Ranger.

The Forest Service engineers began working in October to review all designs put forward in 2019-2020, and have added a few more ideas for consideration. Materials that could perform comparably to roller-compacted concrete are also being researched.

“A field trip is planned to Crosley Lake, in Indiana, where the engineers will get to see how Watershed Geo’s HydroTurf product was used as an armoring agent on that dam,” said Ewing.
While the engineers are focused on Crane Lake‘s dam, the Potosi-Fredericktown Ranger District planning team is working on a proposed action for a landscape-scale project called Arcadia South. This project area is in the southwest portion of the Fredericktown Unit and is between Ironton and Fredericktown. Named for its proximity to the beautiful Arcadia Valley, it encompasses national forest lands west of the St. Francis River and generally south of Highway E.

Forest Service resource professionals have been cataloguing current conditions as they relate to forest health, wildlife habitat, erosion concerns, road issues, and recreation opportunities. Some of the points of interest in the Arcadia South Project Area include Marble Creek Campground, two National Recreation Trails, Crane Lake, and the Crane Lake Spring Walk-in Turkey Hunting Area.

“We completed the field inventory work and are now at a point where we want to invite people to help us build the official proposed action for the Arcadia South Project,” said Ewing. “It is important to me to have user groups and local communities have a say in how we should manage this area of the Fredericktown Unit over the next 10-20 years.”

To participate in the review of resource needs and opportunities, a web-based Story Map has been set up with an opportunity to weigh in on various resource topics. The Story Map can be viewed from a computer or smartphone with access to the internet. A Feedback Form is linked to the Story Map which will allow people to submit their thoughts directly to the planning team through December 13th. To access the Story Map, follow this link: https://arcg.is/0GGWX4.