River levels lowered for levee repair

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE)  City crews will lower water levels in Fort Wayne's rivers so that work can be done to improve and repair the flood control levee along Edgewater Avenue.

The lowering begins Monday, July 23 and will not affect the city’s drinking water supply.

The tainter gate on the Hosey Dam on the Maumee River will be opened at 7:00 a.m. and will cause water levels will drop by a few feet. Residents with floating docks or boats moored on the St. Joe River downstream of the St. Joe Dam, on the Maumee River between the confluence and the Hosey Dam, or on the St. Mary’s River between the confluence and Foster Park should take precautions to protect their property and equipment.

The effects of the lowering will be seen on all three rivers, primarily in the downtown area.

The levee project will begin at the Tecumseh Street bridge and will extend approximately 1,200 feet along Edgewater Avenue on the river side. Work includes clearing tree stumps to ground level, adding three feet of compacted clay to the slope, and placing erosion-control matting called Scour Stop on the lower portion of the levee. The Greenway trail will also be removed and replaced.

River levels could be raised to the normal summer level at the end of September or possibly sooner.