To reduce the risk of potential dam failure in the event of substantial seismic activity, the DSOD has mandated the lowering of the lake by 5 feet as an interim measure of safety. The project is being designed to try to avoid any additional lowering of the lake; however, there are safety variables that may require further precautionary lowering to maintain the integrity of the dam structure and/or ensure a safe work environment. The actual necessity to drop the lake level (beyond the 5-foot DSOD mandate) cannot be ascertained until the retrofit work is substantially underway and any vulnerabilities become known.
The operator of Lake Gregory’s recreational attractions expects the lake’s beaches and swimming areas to continue serving as major attractions, with minimal effect on tourism and revenue.