Times Observer photo by Lorri Drumm Although much of the work that began at Chapman State Park in 2017 nears its end, there are still numerous details to tie up before opening the lake for swimming, boating, and angling visitors.

Most of the work at Chapman State Park is done, but the water is still off-limits.

Contractor KC Construction has reported that the dam rehabilitation project that began in September 2017 is 91 percent complete, according to a release from Chapman State Park.

“The lake has been dredged, the face of the dam has been armored with roller-compacted concrete, the spillway has been extended and a stilling basin added, as well as replacement of the control tower, gate valves, and stop-logs (used to raise and lower lake level),” according to the release. “Remaining items primarily relate to landscaping, parking, paving, and site cleanup.”

But, there are a few items that still require control over the water level.

“There are two significant items yet to complete; the cleaning and repair of 500 feet of a 42-inch diameter underground cement outlet pipe and seam sealing of the spillway steps and walls,” the release said. “These remaining repair items require ongoing lake level fluctuations in order to complete, keeping Chapman Lake closed for the safety of our swimming, boating, and angling visitors until such a time the lake can remain at normal height. Further complicating completion, Warren County has received 16.4 inches rainfall, 2.2 inches above average, this year-to-date.”

“The end is in sight and we are all itching to get out on, or in, the water, but the contractors aren’t quite done yet,” Park Manager Tyson Martin said. “We are hopeful that everything will be finished up by Independence Day, but there is still a long list of items to complete and a few hurdles to overcome to pull it off.”