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Rotting Lake Lucille Dam ‘Barely Hanging On,’ Engineer SaysThere is no doubt that the dam is in disrepair, but just who will foot the bill is debatable.Related Content
An aging dam is at the center of a controversy in Wasilla. The dam is located on the west end of Lake Lucille. It was built back in 1967 by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. At the time the state was interested in raising the water level so they could stock the lake with fish. Now the dam is failing and Fish and Game says they no longer think it’s necessary.
“Our long-term plan is to breach the dam and remove it,” says Fish and Game’s James Hasbrouck. “But we realize that is going to have an impact on others, so we are asking others what they desire for a long-term solution.” Wasilla Mayor Verne Rupright has made it clear what he would like to see—a new dam paid for by Fish and Game. Rupright says that abandoning the dam would cause water levels in the lake to fall at least two feet and that would leave some property owners with their docks sitting in the mud. “I don’t think these homeowners would want a lot of their water washing out so they find themselves in mud,” says Rupright. “What about their boats and floatplanes? How far would they have to extend their docks to get out to deeper water?” Another concern is that a failing dam would rush water down into Lucille Creek and cause flooding problems farther down stream. Fish and Game has built a rock wall to try and mitigate the flow. They hope that will keep mud and other debris from reaching the creek if the dam were to fail, as well as stopping the flow rate by about 50 percent. In the meantime there is still no agreement on whether a new dam will go in or who will pay for it. Rupright says the city of Wasilla might be interested in maintaining the dam if the state would pay to put it in. However, the old dam could fail at any time. |
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siegkirchner said on Tuesday, Jul 12 at 6:28 PM
The wealthy people want something, so the rest of us have to pay. Fish and Game doesn't need it, that's good enough for me. If the residents want to retain their standard of living, let them pay for it. Sounds like it is a private matter; does not benefit the rest of us. "What about their boats and floatplanes?" Sounds like a real hardship; what about the folks looking for work?
70588278akbandit said on Tuesday, Jul 12 at 7:11 PM
My thoughts exactly! If you can live on a lake, and afford the toys, then you can either pay to have your dock area extended or dredged deeper, or chip in for a new dam. The average guy in any state would get told- you should have researched that issue before you bought the property. Oh wait! The PALINS own property there! Can't have their dock sitting in mud now can we? Funny stuff.
70590353WasillaDweller said on Tuesday, Jul 12 at 7:37 PM
It a win win situation for the landowners since they own the land 10 feet from the water. If you can afford a home, dock or whatever on the lake then you can afford to either extend your domain or pay for the dock. I have no interest in paying to sustain your float plane/private boat hobby.
70591572ken said on Tuesday, Jul 12 at 9:07 PM
Palin is now a millionaire and lives on the lake. She can easily afford to replace the dam and it would be a nice gift to her neighbors. No public money should be used.
70595506WhiteTrashInWasilla said on Tuesday, Jul 12 at 10:28 PM
Dern big guvment officials..always a tryin ta ruin et fer us poor folk what live in near puverty en Lake Lucille. Cant hardly even ford da gas fer my floatplane anymoress...woe es me!! Where's Sarah wen we needs her?
70598117oldlakelucille said on Tuesday, Jul 12 at 11:13 PM
I have a 900 square foot home on Lake Lucille which was built in the 1940's, and did not even have drywall or insulation when I bought it. Believe me, it is no mansion! And I don't own a float plane, just a little blow up raft. When I purchased this place, I had no idea that the lake level relied on a "rotting dam" that had apparently been abandoned by Fish & Game. As a homeowner on the lake, I am definitely willing to chip in for a new dam. Please do not assume that the rest of us on Lake Lucille are millionaires living in one of our two enormous McMansions, like the Palins. If you row around the lake, it's pretty obvious that the majority of the cabins were built many decades ago, with old Alaskan frugality the guiding architectural factor.
70599143oldlakelucille said on Tuesday, Jul 12 at 11:17 PM
Lake Lucille is open to the public, with public access and boat launches. There is also a campground and a public park. It is not a private lake like Campbell Lake in Anchorage. And yet someone once told me that the State pays to dredge out Campbell Lake. If this is true, then Campbell Lake should have public access like Lucille does.
70599228Anchorage Guy said on Wednesday, Jul 13 at 1:23 AM
My family and I live in Anchorage but have used the lake many times over the years. It is a wonderful lake. My son's ashes are in the lake. It's a small project and can be easily budgeted for. Fish and Game, finish what you started.
70601427Dusty Sun said on Wednesday, Jul 13 at 6:19 AM
Right on, siekirchner and akbandit My words exactly!! Easy call.....Jeez
70613608Fielding said on Wednesday, Jul 13 at 7:21 AM
Transplant some beavers there.....they'd have a damn built in an evening
70617777Don Johnson said on Wednesday, Jul 13 at 7:36 AM
What im curious about is if the dam isnt replaced, who is going to be responsable for the cleanup, not only of flooded areas downriver but the properties with this mud, rotting lillies and sedement in their front yards, wasilla sucks enough. I know I live there. we dont need it to stink as well
70619163OldValleyBroad said on Wednesday, Jul 13 at 7:40 AM
I have lived in Wasilla since 1984 and have seen many, many changes. Not everyone who lives on Lake Lucille is rich; in fact, most people have modest homes. Everyone missed the point about property further down Lucille Creek flooding. Lake Lucilee IS a public lake. This issue affects everybody. Fish and Game started this, Fish and Game needs to ante up. Maybe a deal could be worked out to share the costs between the CofW, state and property owners?
70619567viva la revolution said on Wednesday, Jul 13 at 6:57 PM
You also have really well off people with float planes and boats that live there let them foot the bill I'm tired of pulling the slack for rich people and not having enough money to feed my family
70660116akmomma said on Monday, Jul 18 at 5:26 PM
Local Assesment. Figure out how much it will cost and create a special assesment so the landowners on the lake, who are the ones that will benefit, pay the bill. No reason to use F&G budgeted monies to fix this.
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