Rochester begins $19 million project to replace Silver Lake Dam

Rochester Public Utilities is undertaking a nearly $19 million project to replace the Silver Lake Dam, a structure with a long history in northeast Rochester, according to krforadio.com.

The original dam was constructed during the Great Depression in the 1930s as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal and was initially managed by the Rochester Parks Department for recreational purposes.

In the early 1950s, ownership and operation of the dam transferred to Rochester Public Utilities after a power plant was established nearby, using the lake for cooling in electricity production.

The dam sustained damage during a major flood in the 1950s, leading to significant repairs. Further modifications occurred after the historic 1978 flood, which revealed the dam was not designed to handle a 200-year flood event.

Following the 1978 flood, officials debated removing the dam but ultimately decided to modify it by shortening it slightly and adding a floodgate to improve water flow during high-water events.