Please be advised that we will begin to refill Kinderhook Lake on Monday, April 1, 2024, in accordance with our DEC Drawdown Permit. Changes in the water level during the refill are weather dependent: more rain & snow melt = quicker refill; less rain and snowmelt = slower refill.
While it’s sad to see the water level dropping to winter levels, just remember how much fun you had this past summer and that next summer will be here before you know it. Fall is a beautiful season and is also time for a few important reminders.
- Do NOT rake leaves into the lake bed, as rotting leaves create nutrients for weed and algae growth. Also, if you can, please remove fallen leaves from the lake bed.
- Do NOT throw brush or branches into the lake, as they end up floating to the dam, clogging the sluice gate debris rack and inhibiting control of the water level.
- If you have any shoreline projects, please complete them this Fall, as the water can rise quickly in the Spring depending on snowmelt and rain. Plus, our DEC Permit requires that we raise the lake back to summer levels as soon as the ice is off the lake in the Spring.
- Please secure any outdoor furniture and loose equipment. In the Spring, we often find deck chairs, carpets, water toys, dock parts, and boat and fishing gear stuck in the sluice gate debris rack at the dam.
On April 1st we will begin the process of refilling the lake to summer level in accordance with our DEC permit. The sluice gate will be lowered and the flashboards will be reinstalled atop the dam. As always, the time it takes to reach summer level is weather dependent.
Shoreline residents are asked to finish any shoreline projects and also clean their lakebeds by April 1st. Decaying leaves create nutrients for algae and invasive species to grow. Floating branches and twigs are a hazard to boating and often end up floating down to the dam and clogging the sluice gate.
We will begin lowering the lake to winter level on October 15th. Winter water level is approximately 52-inches below the average summer water level. Depending on rainfall, winter water level is usually attained by early- to mid-November. The drawdown occurs annually in accordance with our DEC permit in an attempt to protect shorelines and docks from ice damage during the winter. This also allows riparian owners time to repair and/or improve their shorelines and docks. Shoreline projects are best completed in the fall, as rising water levels in the spring can be unpredictable due to snowmelt and rain events.
Before Repairs
After Repairs
The latest repairs to the dam have been completed. As a reminder, two deteriorating downstream faces of the dam were in desperate need of repairs. Unfortunately, getting to an existing sound surface to attach the new concrete face required removal of greater than the expected 6” of existing concrete. In fact, an average depth of 8”–12” of existing concrete needed to be removed before the new concrete face could be properly applied. This condition could not have been determined until the existing deteriorating concrete was removed. Accordingly, this raised the final cost of engineering and construction to $81,339. Kudos to Keller Construction for completing a difficult project quickly and efficiently, and thanks to Board President Bernie Kelleher for managing the engineering and construction.
Of course, the higher construction cost has placed a greater burden on the KLC. The difference between available funds in the Dam Reserve Fund and the final construction cost has increased to over $26,000. We acknowledge and very much appreciate the generosity of donations so far, but we are still a long way from replenishing the Dam Reserve Fund. While we understand that some families may not be in a position to help due to the current state of the economy caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, we ask that those who are in a more fortunate position to please consider an additional donation to the Dam Reserve Fund. Donations can be made with your mail-in membership application, using our online membership payment system, or via the “donate” button found in the right column of this website. Every dollar counts, even just a few if that’s all you can do.
The lake is rising to summer level at this time and we are looking forward to brighter and healthier days ahead. Thanks to everyone for your generosity and support.
One of the primary missions of the KLC is to maintain and upgrade the Nivers dam. Over the past decade, the KLC has completed well over $200,000 of major upgrades to the dam. Projects have included new coffer steel and concrete support to the upstream side of the dam, relining of the sluice pipe, repairing the sluice gate, replacing the old pedestrian bridge, and refacing several areas of the downstream side of the dam. None of these upgrades would have been possible without the generosity of our members.
Another project is now required to reface the deteriorating downstream main spillway and adjacent face of the dam. While a certain level of repairs will always be required to maintain an operational dam, we hope this project will be the last in this series of major upgrades, and will insure that the dam remains in good condition and fully operational for many years into the future.
As can be seen in this photo, the face of the main spillway is spalling and deteriorating. An area just west of the main spillway looks the same. This project will require chipping away approximately 6” of deteriorating concrete face, installing pins grouted into the remaining sound concrete dam, installing a grid of epoxy coated steel reinforcing bars, and forming and pouring a new concrete face to the main spillway and adjacent area. Approximately 620 square feet of concrete surface needs to be replaced. An added expense of this project will be the need for a crane to reach the face of the spillway in order to remove the demolished concrete facing.
Design of the repairs has been completed by Ed Horn, the same Professional Engineer who has designed the previous dam upgrades. Engineering and construction is expected to cost approximately $68,000 based on the low bid received by one of the experienced contractors who has successfully completed other major upgrades to the dam. Thanks to the Board’s yearly transfers from the General Fund, as well as member donations, we have a Dam Reserve Fund balance of approximately $52,000. However, to help close the gap between available funds and the cost of engineering and construction, we ask that all members consider making an additional donation to the Dam Reserve Fund a high priority this year. You can either make an extra donation to the Dam Reserve Fund when completing your 2020 KLC membership application or simply click on the DONATE button in the righthand column of this page. Thanks in advance for your support.
Remember the old adage – Without the dam, there would be no lake!
It seems appropriate that right around the new year, volunteers removed the old sagging wooden bridge over the dam and replaced it with a new steel bridge. During the first week of December, volunteers Bernie Kelleher, Mike Francoeur, Pete Walkes, Dan Riozzi and Jim DeFonce disassembled the old bridge and brought it to the transfer station. A week later, the new bridge was erected by Keller Construction and Conrad Coon Crane Service using steel support beams donated by Colarusso Construction and steel deck grating and railings donated by Keller Construction. The bridge will be painted in the spring and is expected to last for many years. A huge thanks to the volunteers and companies who donated time and materials.
Dam upgrades described in the previous post have been completed.
Completed repairs at west side spillway
Completed repairs around sluice pipe
If you passed by the dam lately, you may have noticed all the heavy construction equipment in action. The last phase of the dam repair project was started on March 24th by contractor A. Colarusso & Sons. This phase involves the removal and replacement of deteriorating concrete in two areas of the downstream face of dam. The first area of repair is on the west side secondary spillway which has a significant area of undermining that extends 4 – 5 feet into the dam (photo 1 below). The plan calls for the removal of rock and deteriorated concrete, doweling of rebar into the bedrock and remaining solid concrete, and then forming and pouring new concrete to fill the void. The second area is on the main dam above the sluice pipe (photo 2 below). This area will require the removal of approximately 240 square feet of the face of the dam to a minimum of 3-inches in depth, installation of new rebar, and then forming and pouring new concrete. The work is expected to take about 2 weeks. The project will complete the latest upgrades to the dam requested by DEC.
Photo 1 – Repair area at west side spillway
Photo 2 – Repair area around sluice pipe
On Monday, April 28th, the contractor completed the sluice pipe relining project. The new pipe was installed and grouted in place; it fit like a glove. The summer boards have been installed at the top of the spillway and we are bringing the lake back up to summer level. With the rain forecast over the next few days, it won’t take long. You can see construction photos on the GALLERY page.
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