Maintenance dredging project will revitalize Murphey Candler Lake

Brookhaven, GA, Jan. 15, 2020 -- One of the jewels in Brookhaven’s park system should be shining brighter by summer thanks to a maintenance dredging project slated to begin shortly. On Tuesday night, the City Council selected Merrell Bros., Inc, Kokomo, Indiana, to conduct a much-needed underwater reclamation project at Murphey Candler lake.

Not only a valuable regional stormwater facility, the lake is also a popular recreational spot surrounded by walking trails. Located in the 135-acre multi-use Murphey Candler Park, 1551 West Nancy Creek Drive, the lake is owned by the City of Brookhaven and home to largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish and channel catfish. It is also a natural habitat for Canadian geese, mallards, beavers and other wildlife.

The venture is an outgrowth of the Nancy Creek Watershed Improvement Plan adopted by the Brookhaven City Council in 2016 and is one of several projects planned to improve the water quality of the lake. The dredging effort was needed due to a mass accumulation of sedimentation along the northern portion of the lake that was promoting the growth of invasive species.

Merrell Bros., Inc., is a nationwide biosolids management company that has been helping municipalities, industries and agricultural operations successfully manage and recycle biosolids since 1982. The contract awarded to Merrell Bros. was for $1,795,828. An estimated 13,768 cubic yards, or 20,652 tons, of sedimentation will be dredged during the course of the project.

The downside, as with any worthwhile undertaking of this magnitude, is there will be a bit of inconvenience for those who live in the area and use some of the park’s sports facilities. “In order for this work to be performed in a safe manner there will be portions of the park closed throughout the dredging project,” says Hari Karikaran, Brookhaven Public Works Director. “In addition to the dredging, the effort includes ‘exercising’ the valve for the primary low-level drain for the lake.  This will require the opening of a sluice gate located in the lake close to the dam.  Opening this valve will allow the release of additional flow from the bottom of the lake into North Fork Nancy Creek.”

Karikaran added that residents downstream will see an increase in flows due to the release and a discoloration of the water in both North Fork Nancy Creek and Nancy Creek due to sediment accumulation around the low-level drain.

The dredging process will require the placement of three barges in the lake and the staging of two large excavators along the eastern side of the lake.  As the sediment is dredged, it will be placed along the easterly shoreline to allow it to dry prior to being hauled to qualified landfills.

For the safety of the workers as well as the safety of the public, the parking lot on the east side of the lake as well as a portion of the walking path along the east side will be closed to public access. 

The overhead power line adjacent to the parking lot will be removed to allow a large crane to be brought in for placement of the equipment and, upon completion of the work, the removal of the equipment.  Power to any of the facilities along the easterly side of the lake will be turned off during this period.

“We are extremely pleased to see this effort get underway,” said Linley Jones, District 1 Council representative. “It will greatly improve the recreational quality of the lake for residents, help the environment and surrounding wildlife, help reduce flooding and provide a multitude of additional enhancements. The contractor will be working as expediently as possible, but the project could take up to six months to complete, depending on the amount of sediment they will be able to remove each day and the weather conditions. But I am sure the beautiful end results will outweigh any temporary inconveniences.”

The dredged material will be hauled to designated landfills in the Metro Atlanta area and there will be an increase in truck traffic during this period.  The truck route will be limited to W. Nancy Creek between the parking lot and Ashford Dunwoody Road and Ashford Dunwoody Road between W. Nancy Creek and I-285.  To help expedite the project, the contractor will be working Mondays through Saturdays.  Working hours will be between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday – Friday and 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturdays.  There will be no work performed on Sundays.

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