 Goshen Scout Reservation Lake Merriweather
Emergency Spillway Construction Project Frequently Asked Questions Why is this project occurring? In partnership with the Commonwealth of Virginia, Army Corps of Engineers, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Rockbridge County officials National Capital Area Council (NCAC), Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has developed plans to improve the functionality and safety of Lake Merriweather’s dam for camp attendees, staff and the Goshen community at large. What will be constructed? The improvement plans include an emergency spillway near Camp Bowman that is designed, as required by law, for a 100-year storm event. Electronic monitoring and an automated gate system will control river flow upstream and downstream to assist with water release management, if needed, during storm events. What is an emergency spillway? An emergency spillway allows excess water that cannot be released through the gate system to go around the dam and into the river below. Lake Merriweather’s emergency spillway will be approximately 300 yards wide. Some logging will be necessary to construct the new spillway and an additional clearing of approximately 20 acres above Camp Bowman’s rifle range will be used to relocate any dirt spoils from the site. What is the cost of the project? The approximate cost is $4 million. Funds are in the process of being secured by NCAC through charitable donations from companies, foundations and individuals. No federal, state, county or local funds will be used for this project. A bank loan will be used to finance the project while fundraising continues to ensure it is finished on time. What is the timeline for the project? Construction mobilization began as soon as summer camp concluded in August 2012. The project is scheduled for completion by May 2013. The lake will be ready for normal operation during summer camp 2013. In anticipation of the start of construction, NCAC began a gradual release of water on August 3, 2012, from Lake Merriweather as directed by/within the approved guidelines provided by Army Corps of Engineers, DEQ and Rockbridge County officials. What is the impact to Goshen Scout Reservation? To accommodate the emergency spillway, a portion of the beltway road will be moved and some programs areas - including Scoutcraft, First Year Camper, Nature and Campfire Hill – at Camp Bowman will be relocated. A volunteer taskforce reviewed the project and aided in the decisions for relocating affected program areas. Plans for the project were also discussed with Scout leaders during lunch with Scout Executive Les Baron (or Council representative) each week at Camp Post during the 2012 camp season. All program areas, as well as a new Campfire Hill, will be open for the 2013 summer camp season. Can we camp at Goshen Scout Reservation during construction? A portion of Goshen Scout Reservation – mainly around the construction site – has been closed to maintain safety as well as the integrity of the project. For camping availability, please contact Gary Carroll (gary.carroll@scouting.org) at the Marriott Scout Service Center. Who do I contact with additional questions? NCAC CFO Derrick Clark: derrick.clark@scouting.org / 301-214-9117
Construction Updates Please note: These files are large PDFs, most at least 8MB, and may take a long time to download over a slow connection.
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