1. Minsi Lake Dam Public Meeting October 3, 2016 Paul Urbanik, P.E.
Chief of Engineering
Mission: To protect, conserve, and enhance the Commonwealth’s aquatic resources and
provide fishing and boating opportunities

2. Overview Dam Overview Dam Deficiencies and Drawdown
Rehabilitation Alternatives
Working Estimates
Timetable – Construction & Refill

3. Minsi Lake

4. Minsi Lake Dam Earthen embankment dam & concrete outlet works
Constructed 1970
Pond surface area (normal pool) – 117 acres
Drainage area – 3.7 square miles
East Branch of Martins Creek
Maximum depth – 26.5 feet
Maximum storage volume – 1,793 acre-feet (584 million gallons)
(47 years old, design life for typical structures = 50 years)

5. Minsi Lake Dam Constructed by J.H. Beers Inc.
Purpose – fishing and boating recreation

6. Blue Mountain Dr.
Minsi Lake
Launch
Parking
Launch and Parking
Dam
Lake Minsi Dr.
East Shore Dr.

7. Auxiliary
Spillway
Primary Spillway
Dam
East Br. Martins Creek

8. PA Code Title 25 Chapter 105 Dam Deficiencies
Department of Environmental Protection
Chapter 105. Dam Safety and Waterway Management
Dam Deficiencies
Spillway Structural Stability
Outlet Works Capacity
Design Flood Criteria
Unsafe Dams

9. Structural Stability - Spillway
NEW DESIGN
OLD DESIGN

10. Spillway Capacity Spillway Capacity Spillway Integrity
East Br. Martins Creek

11. Spillway Capacity

12. Hazard Area

13. Rehabilitation Concept
Construct new reinforced concrete spillway capable of conveying the Probable Maximum Flood (Labyrinth Spillway)
Proposed Spillway,
To be constructed
Existing Spillway,
To be demolished

14. Rehabilitation Concept
Raise Top of dam approximately 2.3’

15. Construction

16. Construction

17. Construction

18. Construction

19. Fish Habitat
Rock Rubble Humps

20. Spider Humps & Felled Trees
Fish Habitat
Spider Humps & Felled Trees

21. ADA Access

22. Project Cost Estimate Working Estimate: $4,000,000 Costs include:
Design Engineering
Geotechnical analysis
Survey and property
Environmental and Historic assessments
Dam Break analysis
Permitting
Property Acquisition (flowage easements)
Construction Contract ($3.0M)
Field QA by design engineer

23. Next Steps Fish Salvage
Obtain dam safety permits and DGS authorization to advertise construction contract
Construct Dam Rehabilitation

24. Fish Salvage Draw down reservoir (4-6 weeks) April-May 2017
Fish Salvage (1-2 days) June 2017
Fish mortality is expected as part of the process
Fish moved to Brady's Lake
Participants Include:
Fisheries Staff
Hatchery Staff
Maintenance Staff
Law Enforcement Staff

25. Fish Salvage

26. Fish Salvage

27. Fish Salvage

28. Rehabilitation Timeline
Minsi Lake Dam
Rehabilitation Timeline
DEP Dam Safety Permits Dec 2016
DGS Approval & Advertise Spring 2017
Drain reservoir & salvage fish April/June 2017
Construction Summer 2017 – 2018
Habitat Construction Spring 2018
Refill reservoir Spring 2019– Summer 2019

29. Questions & Answers Tim Schaeffer, Director, Policy & Planning
Paul Urbanik, Chief of Engineering
Dave Arnold, Fisheries Manager Area 5
Ray Bednarchik, Captain, SE Region Law Enforcement