COLUMBIA, S.C. — Federal officials say they plan to rebuild earthen dams at the Army’s Fort Jackson in South Carolina that failed and flooded downstream homes after intensive 2015 rains.
The State newspaper reported that rebuilding plans were revealed Wednesday as documents indicated several of the post’s dams were in questionable shape two years before the 2015 storm. A Corps of Engineers summary report listed the Semmes Lake dam and four others in “serious” condition after federal inspections.
Fort Jackson and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers say they want to rebuild the Semmes Lake dam and a broken dike at the smaller Lower Legion Lake. The fort hopes to award a construction contract by late 2017.
The dams’ failure sparked lawsuits by downstream property owners claiming millions of dollars in damage.
