Road near Elkhorn Lake dam closed

Recent heavy rains in the Holton area have caused structural damage to the spillway at Holton’s Elkhorn Lake, prompting Holton city officials to close the road across the dam at its west and east ends, it was reported.

Holton City Manager Bret Bauer on Monday told members of the Holton City Commission that runoff from recent rain into Elkhorn Lake, which is located north of Rafters Park on Ninth Street, caused a “potential safety issue” at the spillway. After reviewing the situation on Tuesday, it was decided that the road near the spillway should be closed “in the interest of public safety.”

Bauer also said on Monday that the scope of work needed to repair the issue and reopen the road across the dam to traffic is not known at the present time.

Both roads leading to the dam — Forrest Avenue and Oak Avenue — will remain open to residences along Elkhorn Lake, it was reported. Oak will also remain open for access to the Elkhorn water pump station, along with a temporary gravel area just north of the shelter house on the west side of Oak for motorists using the pump station to turn around.