Alton Sinkhole Drainage Underway Ahead of Crucial Soil Testing

Gordon Moore Park Sinkhole Update: Water Levels Drop After Pumping Effort

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ALTON — SCI Engineering's work to drain the soccer field sinkhole at Gordon Moore Park in Alton is underway in early January 2026.

These are photos and video from Doug Booten of the early work on the sinkhole this week.

SCI has stated it plans to drill small testing points into the ground surrounding the sinkhole at Gordon Moore Park’s soccer field as part of an ongoing investigation into the collapse that began June 26, 2024.

Some of the test points will be located inside the sinkhole, with others around its perimeter. The tests will involve pushing a metal probe into the soil to measure moisture, pressure, and soil strength.

Thomas Casey of SCI Engineering has been hired as an independent consultant for the city of Alton to oversee the sinkhole study. According to Alton Mayor David Goins, SCI Engineering is also conducting the dewatering operation to remove water from the sinkhole, a necessary step before testing can proceed.

“SCI consulting group is actually doing the dewatering; it is not a city-led operation. They are the company we hired as an independent consultant for the sinkhole. They are the ones who organized it and ordered it — the water removal of the sinkhole to help them in their study,” Mayor Goins said in an interview on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2026.

Mayor Goins added that draining the water is critical for the testing and analysis SCI Engineering needs to perform.

Weather conditions are expected to impact the progress of the dewatering efforts. Temperatures in the 50s and 60s this week are favorable for removing the thousands of gallons of water currently held in the sinkhole.

The National Weather Service says there will be a high near 60 degrees around the St. Louis region on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, and a high near 63 degrees on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms into Friday, then cooler, partly sunny days over the weekend, with temperatures dropping into the 40s.

The soccer field at Gordon Moore Park was not in use at the time of the collapse, and no injuries have been reported.

The city continues to monitor the situation as SCI Engineering advances its investigation. However, Mayor Goins remains optimistic as the work to remove the water has started to proceed to the next steps in alleviating the situation with the sinkhole.

The sinkhole is above where New Frontier Materials operates a mine under the field.

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