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Experts to study impact of draining Kenston Lake
(by Joan Demirjian - February 17, 2010)
Experts to study impact of draining Kenston Lake
By JOAN DEMIRJIAN
Bainbridge Township Trustees are considering two applicants for the job of studying the effect of draining Kenston Lake.
At a meeting Feb. 9, companies from Brecksville and New Jersey were interviewed. They both have experienced in hydrogeology studies, Bainbridge Trustee Jeff Markley said.
One of them is to be hired to conduct a hydrogeology study to determine if draining the lake would cause gas to migrate to water wells in the area. The township is planning a project to drain the lake and eliminate the dam.
Trustees sent letters to residents of the Kenston Lake subdivision, notifying them of the meeting, Mr. Markley said.
The study would determine if the lack of the lake water pressure would allow methane gas to migrate and whether there would be any effect on shallow water wells, Mr. Markley said. Some water wells in the subdivision were drilled to only 30 feet, he said.
Concerns follow an incident in 2007 on English Drive, which is adjacent to Kenston Lake. Gas seeped from a gas well drilled off English Drive and flowed into the aquifer and then into water wells. It caused an explosion in December 2007 at the home of Richard and Thelma Payne and contaminated other water wells.
Residents at the meeting last week were updated on the progress of a waterline installed on Bainbridge Road to serve property owners whose water wells were affected by the gas leak.
The majority of the discussion centered on the effect of draining the lake and migration of methane gas and whether it would impact shallow water wells, Mr. Markley said.
A concern had surfaced that draining the lake would allow that methane gas to rise and seep into the Kenston Lake water wells. The meeting allowed residents to express concerns and gain an understanding of the process at Kenston Lake, Mr. Markley said.
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is providing a grant for the lake-draining project, and the agency requested more information on the lack of lake pressure on the gas underground. "Ohio EPA asked for clarification before we drained the lake," Mr. Markley said. The question was raised first by a resident.
"The EPA wanted this study and the agency is paying for it by increasing the grant," he said.
Testing of water wells in the area will be part of the study. Drilling monitoring wells around the lake was also discussed. As the lake is lowered, the wells would be watched to determine the effect on them, Mr. Markley said.
Both firms interviewed agreed on the need for monitoring wells, Mr. Markley said.
The hydrogeology testing could start as soon as the consultant is chosen and would take about three months, he said.
Kenston Lake is being drained following discussion and study of the condition of the lake's deteriorating dam. Ohio Department of Natural Resources has ordered repairs over the past several years.
A township road is built over the dam. "The board of trustees considered the dam a viable threat to the roadway and access to 12 homes," Mr. Markley said.
There are only four owners of the dam and the cost of the repairs was estimated at $400,000.
Bainbridge Police Chief James Jimison and police Lt. Jon Bokovitz attended the Feb. 9 meeting. The police station's well has been affected by gas from the English Drive gas well. The police station is using water brought in to fill tanks.
"We want to make sure that our concerns stay in the forefront," Mr. Jimison said.
The waterline installed and paid for by Ohio Valley Energy, of Austintown, and owner of the English Drive gas well, will not be extended to serve the police station. However, drilling a new water well is being discussed, he said.
"All our inside piping and tanks haven't been used for two years," Mr. Jimison said. Residue has filled the pipes and tanks. If a well is drilled, those materials will have to be removed, he said.
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