ANDERSON — The search for a possible site for a dam for the proposed Mounds Lake reservoir has been narrowed down to two locations in the Irondale neighborhood on the city's east side.
One location near the spot where Columbus Avenue ends at Riverside. The second is north of 17th Street at the intersection with C Street.
The area around the Columbus Avenue location includes an open grassy field to the north of two residential structures. The 17th Street site is surrounded by residential properties, several currently with signs in opposition to the proposed reservoir project.
Results from the Phase 2 study of the proposed project are being released approximately a week at a time by the Corporation for Economic Development (CED) in preparation for public sessions scheduled later this month.
CED has indicated that a dam at either location will create a 2,100-acre lake that will extend east from Anderson along White River to Yorktown in Delaware County. The depth of the lake would be 50 feet at the dam and 9 feet deep in the Daleville area.
The Mounds Lake reservoir, which would cost an estimated $350 million to $450 million to create, would stretch approximately from East Lynn Street in Anderson to Chesterfield and Daleville, ending just north of Delaware County Road 300 South.
The reservoir would flood an area around Anderson’s Scatterfield Road. The spot includes Mounds Mall and other businesses. The resulting pool of water would impact 1 million square feet of commercial property and an estimated 400 homes.
Initial engineering studies indicate floodgates and a cement spillway would help provide water for sale to central Indiana communities.
Sparks said CED is looking to locate the dam as far to the west as possible.
“There is value to pushing it (dam) further west,” he said. “There would be a cost savings by going west.”
“We are still awaiting the completion of the study results, but we wanted to share what we have with the community,” Rob Sparks, executive director of CED, said. “The information we now have includes projected lake levels, the proposed location of the dam and affects on infrastructure.”
Sparks said the engineering work on the two sites is still being evaluated.
Several environmental groups are opposed to the project voicing concerns about the potential impact on Mounds State Park, wildlife habitat and the loss of recreational opportunities.
Sheryl Myers, with the “Heart of the River” opposition group, said Thursday that the release of information sounds like CED is trying to narrow down a site for a dam.
“We always heard it would be in that area,” she said. “The CED is still non-committal about where the dam will be.”
Sparks said the reservoir will impact public infrastructure in addition to flooding the area around Mounds Mall, which is the shopping center on the west side of Scatterfield Road as well as numerous residential dwellings.
“The proposed Mounds Lake would impact sewer, water, power lines, telecommunication, roads, bridges and even the airport runways,” Sparks said.
“Work continues with assessing impact and considering options for solutions. Mounds Road, Scatterfield, Lindberg, I-60 and 300 South would remain much like they are today, only higher, due to the configuration of the dam and the interstate.”
Sparks said public input, along with traffic studies, is crucial as it pertains to all infrastructure needs and determine future bridge replacement.
He also said that the location of the east-west runway at the Anderson Municipal Airport has always been a factor.
“We’re looking at ways to raise or protect the runway,” Sparks said. “Raising the runway makes the most sense.”
Myers said this is the first mention of a possible impact on a runway at Anderson Municipal Airport.
“We always thought they would probably have to move the airport because the water is so close to the runway,” she said.
Visioning sessions will start on Aug. 19 and conclude on Aug. 23 in Anderson, Chesterfield, Daleville and Yorktown.