Modifying Low Head Dams For Safety, Function, and Play

There are thousands of innocuous looking but deadly low head dams in the US. They are sometimes referred to as "drowning machines" because the hydraulic that typically forms at their base (submerged hydraulic jump) traps buoyant objects, including swimmers, tubers and boaters. There is a clear need for engineers who: are aware of this issue, are knowledgeable in design methods that result in safe yet functional low head dams, are able to economically re-design existing dangerous low head dams, and understand the issues and approaches involved in safe dam removal when appropriate. In this paper, we present re-design alternatives for a low head dam on Elkhorn Creek in Frankfort, Kentucky, which has claimed at least seven lives. The dam currently impounds water that is used as fire protection for a local facility. Four design alternatives are currently being considered: complete dam removal (with fire water replacement), breaching a section of the dam to allow for safe passage, adding a boat chute or other modification to the current dam to allow for safe passage, and modifying the dam and surrounding area to create a whitewater play park. 15 pp., 7 references.