Mayor Sarno, Congressman Neal and other City officials held a press announcement at the Watershops Dam today to announce the beginning of the temporary drawdown and the construction schedule. The bottom of the pond is deeper than the low-level outlets at the dam; thus, a residual pool will remain in the deepest portions of the pond basin. The schedule for drawdown is as follows:
Target Date to Commence Drawdown: October 26, 2020
Target Date to Attain Full Drawdown: November 7, 2020
Normal Water Surface Elevation of Watershops Pond: 154.3± feet above sea level (NAVD88)
Normal Area of Watershops Pond: 192.6± acres
Water Surface Elevation of Residual Pool during Drawdown: 140.5± feet above sea level (NAVD88)
Area of Residual Pool during Drawdown: 20± acres
Deepest Point Within Watershops Pond: 135.8± feet above sea level (NAVD88)
Target Date to Commence Refilling of Watershops Pond: April 1, 2022
Target Date to Complete Refilling of Watershops Pond: April 22, 2022
Should the dam repairs be completed sooner than anticipated by the Project schedule, the City may refill the pond in the fall of 2021, if weather events provide sufficient rainfall to do so. Please note that the target dates are approximate and actual times to complete the drawdown or refilling of the pond will be dependent on weather conditions during the operations.
Questions or comments should be directed to tquagliato@springfieldcityhall.com