County officials closed Rockford Beach, a Jefferson County park in House Springs, this morning (June 7) so the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can inspect the dam that crosses the Big River, where a 14-year-old boy drowned last week.
DeVon Cotton of Pacific disappeared in the Big River after being swept over the dam on May 31. After four days of searching the river, his body was found on Sunday.
County Executive Ken Waller said the county is closing the park temporarily so the corps can inspect the dam.
In the spring of 2016, the federal agency repaired the dam that crosses the Big River at Rockford Beach. But, then in May, heavy rains and flooding on the Big River caused significant damage to the park, washing away a road, picnic tables and signage, Waller said.
“We want to make sure the dam that creates the current hasn’t been damaged so it won’t create problems in the future, and if it has been damaged, if there are any safety measures we can take,” Waller said.
Waller said he spoke with Col. Anthony Mitchell from the corps, who said the agency would come out to inspect the dam, probably in the next week to 10 days.
“We are going to shut it down until they can check it out,” Waller said.
In the meantime, he is gathering information about past incidents in the river around Rockford Beach, including the number of fatalities, as well as the number of visitors to the park and whether they are local or from other places and, therefore, not familiar with the river there, Waller said.
He then plans to meet with emergency responders from the High Ridge and Cedar Hill fire protection districts who are familiar with the river in that area, as well as other “stakeholders” in the park.
“We’ll have a round table discussion about Rockford Beach, the dam and the future of the park,” Waller said.
Waller said he grew up along the Big River in the Morse Mill area and spent a lot of time fishing and boating on the river.
According to the press release from Waller’s office, repairs to parks damaged by flooding continue and signs that were washed away will be reposted.
In the meantime, “Jefferson County cautions that all natural bodies of water are swim at your own risk.”
Waller expressed his condolences to the family and friends of DeVon Cotton.