The United States largest provider of dredging services, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation yesterday officially started Lake Decatur dredging project.
This project, aimed to restore the lake’s capacity by approximately 30 percent, will dredge nearly 11 million cubic yards of material from Lake Decatur Basins 1-4 and will also rehabilitate the Oakley Sediment Basin at the site. Great Lakes’ subsidiary, Terra Contracting Services, LLC, will be responsible for the Oakley Sediment Basin rehabilitation portion of the contract.
Wayne Riley, general superintendent on the job, said to the local news that 28 workers will be engaged in the dredging part of the project. He also added that crews will work 12-hour shifts, six days a week.
Stephen Pegg, President of the Rivers & Lakes division added that most of the crew is local. They are new hires to the company who performed GLDD’s safety programs exceptionally well.
Lake Decatur, the largest lake on the Sangamon River, was created after the river was dammed in 1922. The reservoir serves as the primary raw water source for Decatur’s 76,000 residents and large industrial sector. In recent years, the city has been forced to enact water restrictions due to low water levels and drought conditions.
Completion of the $89 million worth project is set for late 2019.
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Dredging Today Staff