While

the rest of Fayette County is praying for rain,

Neil Davis is hoping the drought will last just a

little bit longer.

Davis

is pumping water away from the 153-year-old dam

on Lake Bennett so Brent Scarbrough and Co. can

repair the dam, and any large amount of rain

would make the project much more difficult.

"We

had a little rain yesterday," Davis said

this week, "and I was just afraid we were

going to have to start all over. I'm just hoping

it'll hold off for awhile."

The

historic, picturesque dam and lake are central

features of the Olde Mill Steakhouse, the

restored mill restaurant that Davis and his wife

Kay own.

When

similar drought conditions caused the lake to run

dry last year, residents of the Crystal Lake

subdivision that surrounds the lake wanted to

know why, and experts argued about whether leaks

in the dam were the main problem, or whether

construction or other problems upstream were

stopping the flow of water on Whitewater Creek,

which feeds the lake.

series of beaver dams were cleared away about the

same time that rains increased and the lake

filled back up.

This

year, when the lake level began to drop, Davis

met with homeowners in Crystal Lake, and all

agreed that repairs to the dam have to be done.

"We've

been in a long drought, but the lake went down so

much faster this time than I've ever seen

before," said homeowner Maurice Alexander,

adding he has lived on the lake for 13 years.

"It was clear the dam had to be

repaired."

Homeowners

anted up about $30,000 to get the project

started, and Davis hired Scarbrough and Company

to do the work.

Company

president Brent Scarbrough said he hopes to have

the work completed by the end of this week. It

could cost as much as $75,000, he added.

Workers

are digging below the base on the dam on both

sides, pumping expanding fill material on the

south side and building a concrete seal on the

north side, to stop leaks.

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