Permanent Deegan Lake Fix May Approach $1M and Result in Need to Shut Down Recreation for a Season
By Jeff Toquinto on October 06, 2025
A method to fix a decades-long problem of seepage from Deegan Lake is available, but a permanent fix could be in the range of $1 million.
Council has been awaiting information on repairing the dam after drought conditions in 2024 brought the lake to the lowest levels most had ever seen. Now, current information presented to Council provides a path to bring in up to state and federal safety regulations and ensure the heavily used body of water is available for the community’s use./Lake%20Study%20FB.jpg)
The information came during the most recent Bridgeport City Council meeting. Terracon Consultants Geotechnical Engineer Aaron Reel gave a presentation on their recommendation to fix the dam.
“What they recommended is a two-phase approach,” said Interim City Manager Joe Shuttleworth. “The first one is in the $100,000 to $200,000 range.”
Shuttleworth said this would be a temporary fix and one that could buy time and allow money to be escrowed until the second phase could be completed. A contractor would work to put a chemical grout into the ground and plug up holes around the outlet pipe in the dam that is leading to the seepage from the lake, which is noticeable when dry conditions persist.
“That doesn’t guarantee a fix, but that would be the first option to keep the water levels up for fishing and recreation,” said Shuttleworth.
Past attempts to fix the dam believed to have become operational in 1950 have not worked. Issues with the outlet pipe are on record as far back as 1979 in a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Report. There have been efforts since the turn of the century to make what would hope to be a permanent fix, only to see the problem persist as water comes out of the concrete core wall. The most recent came in 2015 with a company from Putnam County looking at the pipe issue.
“The grout will seal a lot of the problem; how much we don’t know. It works like a leak sealant when you have a radiator leak. It flows through to find the hole and seals it,” Shuttleworth said. “That will slow the leakage for certain, but it is likely just a temporary fix.”/Lake%20Study%20II.jpg)
To make the problem go away for a permanent or extended time, phase two would need implementation. And that comes with a high six-figure and possible seven-figure price tag.
“(Neel) called it like having open heart surgery,” said Shuttleworth. “They would open up the lake structure (the cement tower) and get into where all of the controls are and do all kinds of work,” he said.
Shuttleworth said other issues were found, most of them dealing with failure to meet safety standards. Among the issues was a now nonfunctional drain gate. The drain gate is used if there is severe flooding.
The second phase, unlike the first involving grout-like material, would impact recreation. Neel said it is likely a summer season will be eliminated on the heavily used lakes.
What Council does and how it would be funded if moving forward on one or both phases is unknown. Shuttleworth said the Terracon /Diver%20Inside%20I.jpg)
presentation was informational in nature.
presentation was informational in nature.
“Council and I will discuss it, and they’ll determine how quickly to proceed with a budget revision that will see it can be done quickly, perhaps next year,” Shuttleworth said. “There are opportunities, particularly with a permanent fix, for federal government funding programs. We’re looking into that.”
There is also the option of doing nothing. Deegan Lake has been fine most years, but last year’s drought and the most recent drought has seen levels drop significantly.
“That’s the risk. If there is no drought (Deegan Lake) appears fine. But any type of drought conditions now and you’re going to continue to see problems,” said Shuttleworth.
Editor's Note: Top and second photo shows Terracon staff at work on their latest study that produced the recommendations for the repair and ultimate permanent fix. Bottom photo shows a diver in Deegan Lake in 2015 who worked for a Underwater Services out of Poca that was hired by the city when Tom Brown was engineer. The issue then? The same leaking pipe.
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