Army Corps gives update on Zoar Levee
Nathan White, an archaeologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, presented an overview of progress the corps has made in planning repairs to the Zoar Levee at a meeting on Jan. 23 at the Zoar School House.
Those in attendance included residents of the village, council members and representatives of the Ohio History Connection. The meeting was held to provide the public with updated information and to answer questions about modifications to the plan since the October 2019 meeting.
The levee was constructed by the USACE in the 1930s to hold back potential floodwaters. In recent years water was seeping under the levee and threatening the village. Because of this, the corps conducted an 18-month study to determine whether to repair the levee, destroy the village and allow the area to flood or move the village to higher ground before allowing the lower area to flood. They are moving ahead with repairing the levee.
Historic Zoar Village is a National Historic Landmark District with a large number of historic buildings including museums and residences. Because of this, there are concerns about the impact vibrations, noise and other construction activity may have on the buildings and on daily life as well.
While construction is not set to begin until January 2021, the goal of the USACE has been to reach out to all affected parties, which they refer to as consulting parties, in order to address all possible concerns before construction begins.
“This project will not work without participation from the public,” White said. “We want to make sure all parties are heard.”
White said the corps signed a partnership agreement with the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District in December.
Updates to the plan include a revised location for the relief well staging area to avoid impacting the foundation of the historic Cow Barn, a revised alignment of the Internal Erosion Interception Trench to avoid impacting residential properties and trees with the northern portion being moved west and closer to the levee, and a look at whether or not a gas line may need to be relocated.
White reported the USACE is identifying preliminary areas of potential effect including the effects of vibration and soil disturbance, especially to historic properties. He said the primary areas of impact are almost solely located on Army Corps land. Other impacts being considered are noise, dust, traffic disruptions and the effects construction may have on daily life and Zoar Community Association events.
While the corps believes equipment shouldn’t cause vibration problems for residents and businesses, he said four seismographs will be located throughout town to monitor activity. If vibrations reach a certain level, all work will be immediately halted.
Mayor Scott Gordon reminded White many of Zoar’s residential and historic buildings have sandstone foundations that are dry-stacked, rather than chinked with mortar joints, and that corps experts should take that into consideration in their plans. Gordon also said the village’s historic preservation committee will work closely with USACE as work proceeds.
White said a geophysical survey did discover four anomalies south of First Street. It is unknown whether the areas identified are simply natural features or items of archaeological interest. Because of that, the area will be avoided during construction.
The next step is for the USACE to conduct a baseline structural stability study. Residents will be notified as to when that study will take place. As construction nears, the corps also will train ZCA office staff along with staff and volunteer docents and tour guides so they can inform visitors about what is happening with the levee.
About the meeting, Gordon said, “It’s good to know where they are with such a multi-faceted project. Even though construction is a year away, as it gets closer, it’s good to be informed on a regular basis.”
White said public meetings will become more frequent as the start of construction nears.