Ohio officials say the proposed design for a barrier in front of the deteriorated Buckeye Lake dam could save money and accelerate the project.
That's optimistic news for area residents and businesses disappointed by the lake's water level being kept low as a precaution this summer. It limits boating and water activities, upsetting locals who say the economy and tourism there are taking a big hit.
Gov. John Kasich announced a design Thursday that would use compacted soil and cement columns to reinforce the existing 4.1-mile earthen dam. A designer for the detailed plan hasn't been chosen yet.
The nearly 180-year-old structure has been weakened by several hundred homes, docks and other structures built into it. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concluded it's at risk of failing.
