By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times
In December 2024, the Lake Panorama Association (LPA) lowered Lake Panorama by one foot so a routine inspection of the lake’s dam could be done. In this month’s Q&A, Lane Rumelhart, LPA projects manager, talks about what that inspection revealed and what action is planned in 2025.
Q. What’s the latest status on the Lake Panorama dam?
A. Once the lake was lowered in early December, LPA staff, Shive Hattery Engineers, and Certified Power Solution (LPA’s hydraulic services provider) performed a thorough inspection on the dam. This inspection did not reveal any emergency issues. However, the inspection observed signs of wear on the cylinders that dictate they be rebuilt following the 2025 season. The current cylinders have been in service for 20 years, which the inspection noted was an excellent lifespan.
Q. How will this impact the 2025 boating season?
A. All work is expected to begin in October 2025. LPA will need to lower the lake approximately 5 feet to safely make these needed repairs. Fortunately, LPA has spare cylinders on hand, so we don’t have to purchase those new. LPA is working with Shive Hattery to put together bid specifications to do the work. Once the details are outlined, bids will be requested and a contractor hired.
Even though bids have not yet been requested, LPA staff decided to start notifying the membership now of these future plans. LPA will begin lowering the lake level Oct. 1. Repairs are expected to begin in mid-October and will include replacement of the cylinders, as well as some minor patching and repair to the concrete spillway.
Q. When will boats need to be removed from lifts, and how will the three barge services and Panorama Marine be involved?
A. The last time LPA had to lower the lake to this level to work on the dam was in 2015. At that time, the lake was split into three zones, allowing the marina and barge services to coordinate their efforts. The plan used 10 years ago worked well, so we’ll be implementing the same strategy this year. Zone boundaries are approximate, and progress will depend on the weather. To ensure fairness, the order of the zones will be reversed from what it was in 2015.
Members are encouraged to call their providers well in advance of their scheduled time window. Zone A is the area from the Main Basin to Dale’s Cove. Members living in this zone will need to contact their service providers no later than Aug. 28 to ensure service, since equipment removal will be done in Zone A Sept. 2-10.
Zone B includes Dale’s Cove all the way to, and including, Burchfield Cove. Members living in this zone will need to contact their service providers no later than Sept. 5, since equipment removal will be done in Zone B Sept. 11-20.
Zone C includes all the lake upstream from Burchfield Cove. Members living in this zone will need to contact their service providers no later than Sept. 17, since equipment removal will be done in Zone C Sept. 21-30.
Members are not required to adhere to these zones, but please know anyone who doesn’t is not guaranteed service if they delay beyond the start date of their zone.
LPA staff developed these plans in coordination with the three barge services and Panorama Marine. All four businesses will be available to help remove boats, boatlifts and docks before the water level drops. To ensure you are on their list, please plan to notify them well in advance of your zone timeframe.
Panorama Marine offers a service to pull boats off the water in the fall, winterize and store, then return boats to lifts in the spring. Members who use this service will have the option this spring when Panorama Marine staff puts boats back on the water to get on their list for September removal. If arrangements are not made this spring, those who rely on the marina for boat removal are encouraged to contact them well in advance, so the staff has time to pull your boat before your preferred barge service arrives to remove your lift.
Finally, members in small coves and inlets who do not normally have docks or lifts taken out are not required to do so, and there likely is no additional risk of equipment damage. Yet these members ultimately accept the risk for their property and are reminded their boats will be stranded on lifts if not removed before the lake level is lowered.
Q. What else should we know about this project?
A. LPA makes every effort possible to limit the frequency of lake lowering events. However, judicious maintenance of the dam, spillway and associated components dictates the need to lower the lake by multiple feet at least once a decade. Members should be proud our dam remains in excellent repair due to the association’s consistent and proactive approach.
LPA does not prohibit members from using the lake while the level is down, but LPA strongly discourages lake use. Dropping the pool level by this amount exposes countless underwater hazards that can pose serious safety risks to boaters.
LPA must meet Iowa Department of Natural Resources requirements for outflow from the lake into the Middle Raccoon River, and will meet the thresholds currently in place of 20 cubic feet per second once every 24 hours.
While the lake level is down, this is a great opportunity for members to work on their shorelines. It is much easier for contractors to repair eroded shorelines with added visibility. It also is easier to bring rock that has fallen down below normal pool back to your shoreline. For those who have been thinking they need to do some work on their shorelines, this project is going to provide the perfect opportunity to get that completed.
Anyone with questions about the dam project, lake lowering, and the plans in place to get boats, docks and lifts off the water before the lake is lowered can contact the LPA Office, and the appropriate staff member will be assigned to respond to you.