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Crane Lake Dam Status Update - Oct. 2024

Keeping downstream neighbors and infrastructure safe remains paramount.

Contracting delays

The engineering design phase is going to take longer than anticipated. Right now, the Forest Service is working through some challenges with the current design contract. 

The Forest Service recognizes the importance of Crane Lake to nearby communities, area residents, and to the many people that enjoy visiting the site. We are committed to address structural and hydraulic deficiencies that are keeping the dam from meeting Federal guidelines. Dams are one of the most complex pieces of infrastructure on national forest system lands; therefore, it takes time to develop a design and repair them correctly.

Although this project has experienced a delay due to contracting issues, some important work to prepare for project implementation has taken place over the last few years. This includes completing several important surveys needed for the design work, upgrading the access road to the dam, and developing and testing an emergency action plan for the dam with help from downstream emergency managers

We remain committed to finding a way forward to meet the end goal – a safe and affordable dam.

The Forest Service is actively exploring options for keeping the project moving forward. Once the challenges with the current contract are addressed, we plan to use in-house agency expertise to complete an engineering design. Project funding, in the amount of $3.9 million, has been set aside for construction, and will be available once an approved design is created. 

In-house work began in September 2024. A Mark Twain National Forest surveyor is in the process of collecting elevation data from downstream of the dam to use in the hazard calculations.  Having more accurate data will give engineers the ability to design exactly what is needed to make the repaired dam a safe dam.

With technical studies and analysis from 2015 to present, combined with data and analysis we get back from the engineering contractor, Forest Service engineers will have a jump start in the design process. 

The Forest is also very appreciative of the support we’ve received from partners, including Iron County, in securing a Federal Land Access Grant that will improve County Road 124 – a key route for construction equipment.  Having this in place already will help expedite construction once the design is completed, the contract specs developed and advertised, and the contract awarded.

About the Project

Crane Lake Dam is not in compliance with federal dam safety requirements.  There is a need to address the hydraulic and hydrologic, structural, and seismic deficiencies noted by inspections and studies for the purpose of protecting public health and safety, and the aquatic health of downstream reaches, from the risks posed by this dam. A partial drawdown was initiated in 2015 to relieve stress on the infrastructure.

Feasible alternatives to address deficiencies in the Crane Lake dam were developed by an independent engineering firm and presented to the public in 2019.  The nine alternatives fully addressed safety and compliance with the federal regulations and the purpose and need for the project.  Different configurations of the spillways and earthen dam resulted in scenarios with surface acreages of 0 acres (decommissioning), 58 acres, 77 acres, and 100 acres.

Above and beyond the primary purpose of the project-addressing deficiencies, other issues of concern were raised. These included recreation opportunities, deferred maintenance of Crane Lake Dam, impacts to local economies, and federally listed species and regional forester sensitive species and their associated habitat.

The Forest Supervisor at the time selected “Alternative E” as the alternative that addressed the need for action and purpose of the project, while also balancing public interests and addressing the most comments received during public involvement opportunities.

That Decision was signed in May 2021, what is taking so long?

There have been difficulties and delays with completion of the contract that was awarded to an engineering design firm back in 2021, to produce an engineering design and contract specs to rehabilitate Crane Lake dam.  In June 2024, the contractor informed us that completion of the engineering design was not possible within budget.  Our contracting officer is working with the contractor to gain access to all surveys, analysis and design materials that were completed to date.

Now what size do you expect the lake to be when this project is completed?

As engineers review data, they will provide design options that work to stay under the $3.9 million funding allotment. This means the lake will probably be smaller than 100 acres in size.

Crane Lake Timeline Update

Last updated February 27th, 2025

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