Comments sought on $21M rehabilitation project at Nitro's Ridenour Lake Dam

A young visitor enjoys biking around Ridenour Lake in Nitro. A federal agency is seeking comment on a project to rehabilitate a nearby dam.Photo byCity of Nitro

NITRO, W.Va. — A federal conservation agency will hold a public meeting and is seeking public feedback on a more than $21 million plan to rehabilitate the Ridenour Lake Dam.

The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will hold the public input meeting on Monday, Aug. 12 from 5-7 p.m. The forum will take place at the Nitro Convention and Visitor's Bureau, 201 21st St. in Nitro. It will also be streamed online.

The Ridenour Lake Dam, known formally as Blakes Creek Armour Creek Site 7, is located within Ridenour Memorial Park in Nitro. It is part of the Blakes Creek Armour Creek Watershed, which borders Kanawha and Putnam counties.

The earthen embankment, completed in 1970, was built to protect the region from flooding. It also serves as a local recreational site.

As of now, "the dam does not meet current safety and performance criteria," officials said in a statement.

An environmental assessment plan drafted by the NRCS estimates it will cost $21,311,000 to fix the embankment.

"Rehabilitation is needed to bring the dam into compliance with current State and Federal dam design safety and engineering criteria and performance standards," a fact sheet provided by the NRCS notes.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service estimates it will cost more than $21 million to compelte the dam rehabilitation project.Photo byUSDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Most of the estimated cost to repair the dam ($14,848,300) would come from the NRCS Small Watershed Program fund. The remainder ($6,462,900) would come "from non-federal funds," according to the statement.

The Capitol Conservation District, the Western Conservation District, the West Virginia Conservation Agency, the Kanawha County Commission, and the City of Nitro are listed as project sponsors.

A copy of the NRCS's draft report is available online for public view. The 387-page document details the proposed project, and an accompanying fact sheet provides a summary.

The NRCS said rehabilitating Ridenour Lake Dam would include the following:

• Flattening the embankment slopes,
• Replacing the dam's internal filter and drain system,
• Improving the principal spillway system, and
• Installing a structural auxiliary spillway.

If the plan is approved, project design will begin in 2025. The project is expected to be completed by 2030.

In their fact sheet, the NRCS lists several benefits to rehabilitating the embankment. The agency says the project would reduce potential loss of life due to possible dam failure and continue to protect local homes and businesses from flooding. Rehabilitating the structure would preserve the site for recreational use. It would also extend the dam's life by 100 years, NRCS said.

The public may submit comments about the drafted plan to the NRCS between now and Sept. 12, 2024. Comments should be sent to Jon Bourdon, State Conservationist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1550 Earl Core Road, Suite 200, Morgantown, WV 26505, or emailed to titus.smith@usda.gov.

Questions about the rehabilitation plan can be sent to NRCS Civil Engineer Titus Smith by phone at (304) 284-7562 or by email at titus.smith@usda.gov.

To read the full report, visit nrcs.usda.gov.