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STORMS DAMAGE COX CREEK LAKE AREA

By Millie McClain/SPECIAL TO THE COMMERCIAL
Thursday, June 18, 2009 12:03 AM CDT

SHERIDAN — Boaters at Cox Creek Lake may notice a slightly lower level of water and a slight drop at the end of the concrete ramp when launching and loading their boats because of extensive damage to the spillway during heavy rains in May.

In early May the area around Cox Creek Lake received approximately 8-10 inches of rain causing the water level to overspill the spillway causing the damage, said Mike Walker, regional maintenance contract coordinator with the construction engineering and real estate division of the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

The damage is estimated to cost around $180,000. Since Grant County has been declared a disaster county due to the May storms, officials are hoping to receive disaster assistance funds to help with the cost of replacing the spillway, he said.

Walker said they are planning to begin work on replacing the spillway in late summer or early fall. He said once work begins it will take approximately 45 days to complete, but the project should not cause any closings.

The main problem boaters at the lake will encounter from the spillway damage is in launching their boats.

“Right now there is enough damage that it seems to have lowered the normal pool leverage by one foot increasing boat launching at the boat ramp,’ Walker explained.

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