LANCE GAITHER

lance.gaither@bluegrassnewsmedia.com

Anyone driving over the Dix River on State Road 34 probably has noticed low water levels in Herrington Lake.

Water levels in Herrington Lake are lower than normal as water is being released to make repairs and routine maintenance of Dix Dam, according the Natasha Collins, director of media relations for LG&E and Kentucky Utilities. The repairs include applying a new layer of sealant to the face of the dam and clearing sediment from support joints, she said.

While these repairs are not a part of routine maintenance, they are a necessary and expected part of dam upkeep. Daily visual inspections, bi-annual inspections and an additional inspection every five years are used to determine when it is time for these repairs to be performed. Marina owners, the Herrington Lake Conservation League and the state government were all notified of the repairs beforehand. There are no impacts to the functions of the marinas from the decreased levels in the lake. The water levels have been reduced to 717½ feet above sea level, compared with 760 feet above sea level during the summer, according the U.S. Geological Survey. During the winter, water levels in the lake typically are drawn down to about 725 feet above sea level, but were drawn down earlier and more than usual for maintenance. This is also the lowest the water level has been in Herrington Lake in the past five years, according to the USGS.