MARQUETTE -- Marquette residents may notice a change at Tourist Park as the lake has risen several feet as a result of the newly placed coffer dam.  The water level at the lake rose about nine feet in four hours once the dam was in place.

A coffer dam is used as a temporary structure to lower the water level where the permanent dam will be constructed.

"The completion of the coffer dam represents a significant milestone in the project," said Project Manager Eric Booth.  "It allows us de-water channel, prep it for the installation of the new spillway."

Once the permanent dam is complete, the top four feet of the coffer dam will be removed to allow water to fill the spillway.  This will also allow for an easy way to de-water the spillway for future repairs.

They plan on having the dam complete by November but will wait until the summer of 2012 to fill the lake completely to allow wetlands to fully take root.