Repairs to the dam at Greenbelt Lake have had a dramatic impact on one of the city’s most beautiful and peaceful parks, causing Greenbelters to wonder how long it will take for the lake and its environment to recover. Major repairs were mandated after the dam was declared a serious hazard by the Maryland Department of the Environment in 2008. It is now estimated that the repairs will be completed by April 1, 2020. Terri Hruby, director of Planning & Community Development for the City of Greenbelt, reported that for the dam repair project, the lake’s water level was lowered 10 feet and is now around three feet deep over an area of almost three acres. In 2010, a bathymetric survey found that the depth of the lake ranged from zero to a little over 14 feet at its deepest. Hruby reported that two aerators were installed in the deepest parts of the water remaining in the lake to increase dissolved oxygen levels to sustain aquatic life. She added, “completing the project in colder temperatures has reduced impacts to fisheries.” To assist with aquatic plant regeneration, the city will seed the exposed banks with native species, all of which will grow in persistently saturated and inundated ground (i.e. the fringe of the lake). Luisa Robles, the city’s sustainability coordinator, stated, “Although many mussels, snails and small fish have perished, they will come back. Species that take longer to grow will take longer to bounce back. However, the lake is seeded with fish every year by Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The fish will have mussel larvae with them so they will be restocked as well.” According to the Maryland DNR, trout stocking usually occurs from the middle of March through late May. Their 2019 stocking schedule showed that Greenbelt lake was restocked in early February and twice in April. The 2020 schedule is not yet available. Robles added, “Migratory birds that usually come to Greenbelt Lake can choose other nearby lakes such as Artemesia for their winter needs. The lake will be back to normal in a couple of months.” A greenbeltmd.gov update from October 19 stated, “required repairs include: installing chimney filter and toe drain downstream slope of embankment to protect the stability of the dam, raising the embankment by 14 inches to accommodate larger storm events, rebuilding the spillway flume to control the flow of water leaving the lake and re-constructing the collapsed lake drain and returning it to an operative state.” To learn more about species native to Maryland that might be seen around Greenbelt Lake, visit dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/ plants_wildlife/mdwllists.aspx. For project information and updates, visit greenbeltmd.gov/ greenbelt_lake_dam_repairs or contact Terri Hruby at thruby@ greenbeltmd.gov.
Greenbelt Lake Dam Repairs Planned for April Completion
Work continues on the Lake dam.