City gets $300,000 for Sloss Dam repairs
By Staff
Jonathan Willis
Help is on the way that will allow the city of Russellville to move forward with plans to repair a century old earthen dam that threatens to wash away a portion of a major state highway.
Gov. Bob Riley notified city officials Thursday that Russellville has been awarded $300,000 to use on repairs at Sloss Dam on Alabama 24.
The grant will enable the city to take immediate steps to repair two large holes that have developed in Sloss Lake dam. A potential collapse of the earthen dam threatens the safety and welfare of at least 70 residences downstream.
"The threat posed by the possible breach of Sloss Lake dam requires timely action to avert a potential disaster," Riley said. "I commend city officials for alertly detecting and promptly responding to this threat to life and property."
When the leaks developed early last month, the city made temporary repairs to lessen the threat of a collapse and downstream flooding.
The Alabama Department of Transportation quickly filled the roadside with heavy gravel that helped ease water flow. The city used several water pumps to pump water from Sloss Lake into nearby channels and out into Cedar Lake.
A possible solution includes sealing the length of the dam on the lake side with a commercially sold clay product to stop the existing and future leaks. Additional dirt would be used to reline the dam to make it more stable.
The dam and 44-acre lake were built in the late 1800s by an iron-ore processing manufacturer. The city acquired the property about 50 years ago and converted it into a park.
The grant was awarded from funds made available to the state through a program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant.
Russellville Mayor Johnny Brown said the state funding is a great relief to the city.
"This is certainly a great assistance to us," Brown said. "It will take a little time, even on an urgent need like this, but we do intend to repair the dam and we want to see that it's done right."
