We've lived out by Buckeye Lake for over 8 years now. We're newbies compared to most out here, but, we love the lifestyle. We love the "resort" atmosphere here year round. We don't have a boat, which definitely puts us in the minority, but we have a golf cart, which puts us in the majority!
This time of year is when Fairfield Beach and the whole of Buckeye Lake shines. The boats get uncovered, the fire pits start flaming and golf carts, motorcycles, 4 wheelers and legs become the mode of transportation. There isn't a night of the week where you won't see a bonfire and people gathering.
Oh, how things have changed.
The longtime residents noticed that the lake spillway was still open. It's opened in November to lower the lake to "winter pool" level for dock maintenance and is closed on March 1st to allow the snow melt and spring rain to fill it back up. When it still hadn't been closed, more and more people started asking why. When the ODNR (Ohio Department of Natural Resources) couldn't hide anymore, they put out a report from the Army Corps of Engineers saying the 177 year old earthen damn was in imminent danger of failing. Evacuation plans were made and the risk of an 8 foot wall of water, muck & fish flooding the area was right around the corner! The engineers recommended the lake be drained but if it was kept at winter pool, it might be okay. They directed all their blame on the lakeside homeowners who had built their docks & decks into or atop the dam.
As the shock wore off, people started asking questions.... The engineers look every year at the dam, why is it going to fail now? Why blame the homeowners when the state is the one that hands out the permits?
Governor Kasich came out, listened to ODNR, the Corps & some politicians and said the lake was to remain at winter pool levels, no debate. He said they were going to build a brand new dam and clean all the debri from the lake. It would take 5 years.
Now here's the rub. Buckeye Lake is not at winter pool level. It's damn near empty! It may be 16" deep in the middle, maybe. This is winter pool.
Not this! Same place!!
There's been pushback to the ODNR & Governor Kasich. A lot of it. Just last month there was another inspection paid for by the CoC and done by Rizzo Associates, a firm out of Pittsburgh and they said that if an earthen dam fails, it does it in the first 5 years. They also said that closing the spillway but lowering it 18 inches would keep the lake at a safe level and save the ecological torture the lake is experiencing and would bring back at least some of the economy lost by the lack of tourists and fishermen w/their boats. BTW, the Rizzo group is the same group ODNR hired in 1997, w/basically the same recommendations.
Every bar and restaurant at Buckeye Lake has a dock for their customers. Their docks are all filled this time of year. These are the docks at the AMVETS Post today
What it all boils down to is someone lied. ODNR or Kasich, someone lied. Buckeye Lake is not at winter pool level. This is not winter pool level.
And sadly, neither is this! This picture was taken by Aaron Parks and if you look closely, that's a 4-wheeler riding across the lake to an island house!!
The picture of the boats at the top of the blog was taken last spring. This is this spring.
Something's rotten in Buckeye Lake State Park.
