Water level to be lowered at Lake Accotink

The Fairfax County Park Authority will lower the water level at Lake Accotink after Labor Day in order to complete an assessment of the dam.

The assessment is being conducted to evaluate the integrity of the structure and identify any maintenance or repair needs, the Park Authority states.

The marina and dam area will remain fenced, with warning signs in place to remind park patrons to keep off the exposed lakebed for safety reasons.

The evaluation is expected to be finished this fall. It will then take several weeks for the lake to return to its normal level, depending on precipitation.

Related story: A fix for Lake Accotink is years away

When the Park Authority attempted to lower the lake and drain the stilling basin several months ago, maintenance staff discovered that the sluice gate could not close properly, preventing workers from safely draining the basin.

Divers were called back to inspect the gate and found that the stem for opening the gate was damaged, which would not allow reliable operation. A new stem was fabricated and installed, but then the park authority delayed the project so as not to disrupt the summer recreation season.