Preparations under way for Lake Decatur dredging campaign

Project Updates - July 30, 2010

The Herald Review newspaper says the dredging of Lake Decatur, a large reserboir in Illinois, is set to begin again in September, but the project isn't standing still until then, City Manager Ryan McCrady said.

In a memo to the Decatur City Council, city staff said the contractors have large plans for the project, including replacing the diesel fuel-powered pump stations with electrical ones to lower fuel consumption, upgrading an access road to accommodate heavier equipment, installing a new and larger pipeline to convey dredged materials and testing all of the new equipment and pump stations before beginning.

"All the changes and work being done by the contractor is part of the plan to get Basin 6 dredged quickly," McCrady said. "These changes will allow them to dredge the basin in less than two years, and the time spent making these preparations is included in that time frame."

Sediment naturally settles at the bottom of lakes over time, slowly reducing their water capacity, and the city's dredging operation removes that sediment from Lake Decatur as part of the city's many ongoing efforts to maintain an ample water supply for residents and industry.

It was the subject of debate earlier this year, when the Decatur City Council voted to privatize the project and sell the city's dredging equipment to contractors.

The move sparked outrage from union representatives, who have repeatedly asserted privatization will not be any cheaper for the city and said managerial difficulties have resulted in a slower operation.

Water Management Director Keith Alexander has countered by saying city dredge workers haven't shown much willingness to stay with the project and that the city is less