Posted on November 11, 2024
WALLA WALLA, Wash. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District has awarded a $1.2 million construction contact to Advanced American Construction, Inc. for flood risk management and recreation improvements at Bennington Lake.
The project, scheduled to begin Nov. 12, will focus on improving Bennington’s intake tower, a vital piece of flood risk management infrastructure. The tower captures water from the lake and allows USACE officials to drain the reservoir as needed to meet both flood risk management and storage capacity needs. Additionally, the current public boat ramp will be removed and replaced with a new ramp. Construction is estimated to be finished by Feb. 28, 2025.
For both the safety of the public and work crews, the following closures will be in affect during this project: Reservoir Road to the Bennington Lake Recreation Area will be closed to pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Meadowlark Trail will be closed to the public between the north face of the Mill Creek Dam and the southern basin portion of Bennington Lake during construction. Intermittent trail closures will be required but most trails and designated hunting areas will remain open.
Visitors may access trails along Reservoir Road, the pedestrian bridge near the visitor center, Rooks Park, Mill Creek Trail, Whitetail Trail & Meadowlark Trail during normal park hours.
Parking is available at the Mill Creek Visitor Center parking lot, overflow grass lot on Reservoir Road near visitor center, Rooks Park parking lot, and at the dirt lot on Reservoir Road.
Mill Creek will be reopening the Kingfisher trail and pedestrian bridge near Rooks Park starting November 12.
For questions, contact the Walla Walla District at 509-527-7020 or via email at cenww-pa@usace.army.mil.
Closure map at the link below.
Related Document: Mill Creek Closure Map November 2024
