Dredging has been completed at Lake Elkhorn, the last of Columbia’s three man-made lakes to have sediment removed over the past few years, according to Dennis Mattey, director of construction for Columbia Association (CA).
JND Thomas began its dredging work at the 37-acre Lake Elkhorn began in late July 2012. The contractor finished in early February and is in the process of moving equipment off-site, with all equipment expected to be removed by early March. Restoration work associated with re-establishing the existing parking lot and pathways off Broken Land Parkway is expected to begin in mid to late March and be completed 75 days thereafter.
Work at the 27-acre Lake Kittamaqundi began in October 2010 and ended in January 2012. Work at the 22-acre Wilde Lake began in April 2012 and wrapped up in July 2012.
The dredging is done “ to maintain the environmental and aesthetic value of the lakes ,” Mattey explains. Sediment that has built up at the bottom of the lake can create conditions in which more aquatic vegetation grows, which can have a detrimental effect.
“ Restoring the depth to the lake helps to maintain the environmental value of the lake as an aquatic habitat ,” Mattey says. “ And it looks better, too .”
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Press Release, February 12, 2013