The Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust soon will begin two repair projects at Lake Hefner. On Nov. 14, citizens walking or biking at the south end of the lake will encounter a short detour off the trail west of the remote control Airplane Park field. The project will repair the erosion caused by last summer’s excessive rain and will take about 4 months as it will require extensive repair of the retaining wall. The second project at Lake Hefner is expected to begin in December or early 2008. At that time, the Hefner dam road and trail will be closed between Britton Road and Old Lakeshore Drive. Estimated time of the project is six to nine months, depending on construction and weather conditions. The road across the dam is primarily used for recreational purposes, and construction will not cause traffic detours outside the lake property. However, hundreds of citizens a day use the walking/biking trail or fish off the road. “We realize the road closing will inconvenience the citizens who enjoy walking, biking or fishing on the north side of Lake Hefner, and we truly apologize for that,” said Debbie Ragan, public information officer for the Utilities Department. “We looked for ways to avoid closing the trail during the project, but the road is too narrow to safely allow construction and recreational activity.” The erosion along the bank and under the road occurred over a number of years, but the damage and leaning guardrails worsened with the excessive rain last summer. This shift in soil also caused the dam face to begin sloughing off.

The project consists of these repairs:

• Additional rip rap, dropping large rocks about every 50 feet along the lake banks to stop erosion on the lakeside of the dam

• Geo Web soil-stabilization material, re-vegetation and drainage system on the dam face, preventing future soil erosion and sloughing

• New 42-inch high cable guardrail across the dam, meeting current safety standards

• Repaving of the road across the dam

Until construction begins, citizens are welcome to enjoy the trail and road. The dam is in no danger, but these maintenance repairs will ensure the integrity of the dam and prevent further deterioration. “The project time is great opportunity for citizens to explore the City’s other lakes and trails,” Ragan said. “When the project is completed and reopened, they will return to Lake Hefner and enjoy an even better and safer place to walk, bike or fish.”