(Carroll, OH, September 21, 2026)  – USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Fairfield Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), and the Hunter’s Run Conservancy District, are sponsoring a public meeting to discuss the proposed rehabilitation of the Hunter’s Run Dams 4 and 9 in Fairfield County, Ohio.  Dam No. 4 is located on Stonewall Creek, a tributary to Hunter’s Run southwest of Lancaster off US 22 on Stonewall Cemetery Rd.  Dam No. 9 is located on the Hocking River near Historic Rock Mill, upstream of the community of Hooker.  The meeting will be held on October 21, 2026, at the Fairfield County Workforce Center located at 4465 Coonpath Rd NW, Carroll, OH.  The meeting will start at 6:00 p.m. You can join via Microsoft Teams at https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/248997682523274 or by telephone +1 917-768-5183, access code 913643607#.    

Representatives from the Local Sponsors and NRCS, along with their consultants, will provide information on the dam rehabilitation program, and  planning activities completed to date for the Hunter’s Run dams. They will also outline the  rehabilitation alternatives under consideration for these flood control structures, address questions and concerns regarding  the planned activities and seek public input.

The dams provide flood protection to the City of Lancaster and property and infrastructure in and adjacent to regulated FEMA floodplains throughout the Upper Hocking watershed.  Local sponsors, NRCS staff, and their consultants are developing a plan for rehabilitating these dams so that they meet current dam safety regulations and design standards.  Alternatives being considered include: no action, decommissioning (dam removal), structural rehabilitation, and nonstructural measures.

Federal funding has been received to assist the local sponsors in developing the rehabilitation plan but has not yet been secured for the design or construction of these projects.     

NRCS provides reasonable accommodations to enable all people with disabilities to participate in agency programs and activities.  If you require special accommodation, please contact Colin Nugent by October 7, 2026. 

For further information on the meetings, contact Colin Nugent, NRCS Engineer, at (740) 396-2480 or Colin.Nugent@usda.gov or Lindel Jackson, President Hunter’s Run Conservancy District at (740) 409-0312 or huntersrun.hrcd@gmail.com.