Dredging work has begun at Murphey Candler Lake to restore lake depths at the southern end of the body of water near West Nancy Creek Drive.
At the Oct. 9 Brookhaven City Council meeting, the panel voted to authorize North Georgia Concrete to drain the lake and clear sediment from it at a cost of $1.5 million, a release from the city said.
Residents can expect an increase in heavy machinery and dump trucks traveling to the park along Ashford Dunwoody Road or Chamblee Dunwoody Road/E. Nancy Creek Drive from I-285, with up to 25 truck trips taking place each day.
“Now is the perfect time to dredge the lake, since the water levels are already low,” said Brookhaven Stormwater Manager Sean McCarthy in the release. “This work ensures the safety of residents downstream by addressing functionality of the low-level drain, and we can do it efficiently with the crew and structures already in place.”
The lake’s fish, according to McCarthy, were professionally relocated before it was drained.
“A careful refilling of the lake and coordination with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to restock the lake with a healthy, native fish population will follow,” the release said.
The matter was discussed at the council’s Sept. 29 meeting, but no vote was taken as the panel did not have a quorum.
When the lake was lowered for another project, significant sedimentation in the area was found in around the reconstructed Primary Spillway, also known as the Low Water Drain, a staff memo about the expenditure said.
Crews will remove about 10,000 cubic yards of sediment near the primary spillway. NGC had previously submitted another bid to dredge approximately 60,000 cubic yards from all areas of the lake “at a significantly higher cost,” but the council opted for the first option.
The lake at the 135-acre park was constructed in 1960, and was drained in 1998 and 2013 for similar work.
