Officials from several state and federal agencies are urging the Cole County Commission to not build a new dam at Renns Lake, but to turn the area into a stream, consultants told the commissioners Wednesday.
Heavy rains in the fall of 2009 compromised a 30-foot stretch of the dam, located south of Jefferson City, near U.S. 54. To prevent a collapse of the dam, it was breached and the lake was drained. The landowners didn't have the funds to repair the dam, and the property was deeded to the county.
At their meeting Wednesday, commissioners heard from representatives of Spectrum Consulting who had talked with agencies such as the EPA, DNR and U.S. Fish and Wildlife about the possibilities of grants to fund the work at the lake.