U.S. Representative Mike Bost sent a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, saying he's "frustrated and blindsided" by the decision. He wrote that "people are furious... and they have every right to be." He vowed to "get the answers we deserve" from "the D.C. bureaucrats."
Meanwhile, members of the Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge say the lake's draining is a hard transition, but necessary to keep surrounding residents safe. A post on their website says, "The safety of our visitors, staff and of our neighbors is our top priority."
The intention is that after the multi-year reconstruction of the dam that has outlived its intended life span, the rehabilitated spillway will allow the lake to continue to be used for generations.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said last week that "massive flooding, erosion and deterioration" of the dam constructed in 1942 could lead to the potential failure of the spillway on the 1,000-acre lake and endanger residents downstream toward Crab Orchard Lake, and eventually the city of Carbondale.
The dam at Little Grassy was already operating under an emergency action plan after issues were discovered in the spillway during a recent inspection, and during a two-year study by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to explore rehabilitating the lake's aging infrastructure.
Earlier this summer it was announced the permanent closure of Little Grassy's campground and marina. The campground closed in November.
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