City Engineers Assess Dam at Spring Valley Park After Sinkhole Forms on Embankment

A sinkhole discovered at Spring Valley Park has prompted the city of Kalamazoo to allocate $335,000 for engineering evaluation and potential repairs to a nearby dam.

The 1956 dam at 2600 Mt. Olivet Road developed a sinkhole along its embankment about a year ago, according to city documents. The structure helps maintain water pressure within the city's drinking water system and creates an impoundment that plays a role in maintaining pressure on an upper aquifer.

City Public Services Director and City Engineer James Baker told wwmt.com the dam remains safe and is not at risk of failure.

This is all about preventative maintenance and extending the life cycle of the dam, Baker said. The dam is safe.

The sinkhole formed along the dam embankment and prompted immediate repairs and inspections. City officials are now moving forward with a comprehensive evaluation to determine whether the structure should be repaired or replaced.

The city approved a contract with Niswander Environmental LLC during a Monday, April 20, 2026 meeting. The engineering phase will cost approximately $335,000 and will be funded through the city's water department capital improvement fund.

Total construction costs have not yet been finalized, but early estimates suggest the work could reach roughly $3 million, depending on findings from ongoing evaluations.

Planned improvements during the engineering phase include:

  • Replacing gate valves
  • Updating and relining piping
  • Conducting additional investigations to determine whether further repairs to the embankment are necessary
  • Pressure monitoring along the base of the dam to better assess its condition over time

The engineering and investigation phase is expected to take approximately six to eight months, with a clearer picture of the full scope and cost of repairs available after that period.

City officials clarified that the pond at Spring Valley Lake is not a direct source of drinking water, but is part of the broader infrastructure supporting the Station 14 pump system, which draws groundwater from a lower aquifer.

Residents visiting the park are unlikely to notice significant disruptions during the evaluation. Survey teams or work crews may appear from time to time, but there will be no major impact through the summer.

You might see survey teams or work crews from time to time, but there will be no major impact through the summer, Baker said.

City leaders say the goal is to address potential concerns early rather than respond to a larger problem later.

We're being proactive. This is about maintaining a critical asset and making sure it continues to serve the community for years to come, Baker said.

The city will schedule any larger construction efforts during lower-traffic periods, such as winter months, to minimize disruption to park visitors.