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| Argo Dam – More Than Just the Question of In or Out |
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| by Evan Dougherty |
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| 27 Sep 2009 6:13pm |
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| Caption: Courtesy of Google Earth |
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Introduction
The Ann Arbor City Council is about to oversee many different studies to help determine the fate of Argo Dam. Ever since a 2004 inspection of the dam by the Michigan Department for Environmental Quality (MDEQ), paperwork has been traveling back and forth over the years between the city and MDEQ pertaining to extension requests, unforeseen endangered plant species implications, and approval of said requests with numerous additional stipulations.
While the long-term issue is the overall fate of the Argo Dam (including spillways, headraces, and embankments), the immediate issue at hand is in regard to the public safety concerns with the condition of the headrace toe drains and the continued delays of performing their repairs.
Click here to download the Argo Facilities Report, a report that Ann Arbor Administrators have provided the City to brief them on the many details about the Argo Dam problem.
The following is a summary of the report:
Explanation of Argo Facilities
Before going into more detail about the issues at hand, it is first important to explain what the different components of the Argo Dam are, so that they can be distinguished among when trying to understand these current issues.
The dam is made up of the following components (as categorized by MDEQ):
Primary Spillway with Gates
Access/Canoe Passage
Headrace Embankment
Huron River
Headrace
Auxiliary Spillway
Canoe Portage
Allen Creek Outfall
Dam Embankment
Argo Pond Impoundment
Argo Canoe Livery
Toe Drains
Click here for a satellite image detailing the location of each of these components.
Current Situation
The most recent extension letter was sent to the MDEQ by the City of Ann Arbor in July 2009. The MDEQ affirmed the extension until April 2010 for the city to decide on the ultimate fate of the dam. However, the MDEQ added new requirements as a Dam Safety Order to the City.
Included in these additions are requiring the city to completely shut off the flow of water from the impoundment to the headrace and dewater the headrace. This needs to be done so the embankment problems can be corrected and the Land and Water Management Division (LWMD) can approve the repairs. By the end of next April, an evaluation to address these problems must be made. If the decision is to keep the dam, the corrections to the deficiencies of the embankment need to be made by the end of 2010. If the City decides to remove the dam, the removal must be completed by the end of 2012. The City must also submit reports on its progress annually by August 15 every year.
Disagreements between the City and MDEQ
The City of Ann Arbor has made clear many disagreements it has with the MDEQ’s order. First, it does not agree with the language in the report when it says “the deficiencies at the dam have not been corrected by the City” and also, “due to the poor condition of the Argo Dam.” The City does not agree with these statements due to their vagueness in referring to the condition of the dam. It does not distinguish between the headrace and the spillway (the principal spillway was in “good condition” according to an inspection by MDEQ in 2007).
The City also disagrees with the order made by the MDEQ because of its strict time constraints. The City feels that if it decides to keep the dam and repair the toe drains by April 2010, it will not have enough time to complete all of the necessary steps to repair the toe drains by the following December. (It would have to obtain bids, establish a contract, and obtain permits and approvals, all prior to even starting the repairs).
If the City decides to remove the dam, the timing set up by the MDEQ could affect the City’s ability to obtain grant funding, find alternative rowing facilities, and impact the canoe livery seasons for the three years necessary to complete the removal.
The City is planning to contact the MDEQ with regards to its concerns, and may hire consultants to evaluate the conditions of the dam in the meantime.
Purple Turtlehead Plant Species
One seemingly small problem affecting the progress of the dam repairs and evaluations is the presence of an endangered plant species in the areas of the headrace embankment. This presence caused initial delay in the review and repair process, and it has since been decided that buffer areas will be created around the species when repairs are completed.
Canoe Livery Impacts
A major concern the City has with action on this matter is the effect it will have on the Argo Canoe Livery. In the past two years, the livery has had a net revenue of over $27,000 for both years. This net revenue ends up being placed into the City’s general fund. If alternate arrangements are not made, this will create a significant dent in the general fund while repairs are made.
And the City is not only concerned with the revenue loss, it is also concerned with the impact on those who use the livery. 40,000 people rented boats from the Gallup and Argo Liveries in 2008. So a large number of people would be affected if the headrace was closed for repairs and no alternative accommodations were made.
Some temporary accommodation options are being considered, but both are costly. First, a temporary livery could be set up downstream, but the cost would probably run from $30,000 to $45,000. A second option would be to establish a permanent livery at Barton Pond, just north of Argo Pond. This would allow river trips to be shifted north, so that trips of two to six hours would still be possible during construction. However, the cost of constructing a permanent livery at Barton Pond would range from $75,000 to $100,000. This would also add an increase of traffic in Argo Pond, where many rowing teams already practice, and could pose a safety issue.
Rowing Impacts
As previously mentioned, there are many rowing teams that practice on Argo Pond. These include teams for the Ann Arbor high schools, the Ann Arbor Rowing Club, and the University of Michigan’s Men’s Club-Varsity team. While rowing would not necessarily be affected while repairs are made to the headrace, it would definitely be affected if the dam were to be removed. In fact, Argo Pond would no longer be a pond, and rowing would no longer be possible.
The City is looking into options for moving the teams to different sites if the dam were removed. Locations currently under examination are Barton Pond, Geddes Pond, and Concordia College. However, these sites present a number of concerns for the rowing teams, namely access, parking, wind, and length of water.
The City has also noted that they have no funds set aside for relocating the rowing community. It has also not been in contact with these sites to discuss this option.
Four Headrace Options
As of now, the City will likely hold discussions with MDEQ to express its concerns. If nothing comes of these discussions, then the City believes it has four different options to act upon.
1. Contest the order placed by MDEQ in regards to technical issues with the report.
2. Shut off the flow of water to and dewater the headrace
3. Repair the toe drains
4. Address headrace deficiencies and remove the canoe portage
As options two through four have a high cost associated with them, it is likely that the City will go with option one if discussions are unsuccessful. This may allow the City to have time to secure additional funds for options two through four once the contest has been resolved.
Dam-In and Dam-Out Scenarios
The City has also determined areas of further study for scenarios regarding both keeping the dam and taking it out. Refer to the Argo Facilities Report on pages 14 and 15 for more information.
Timeline of Action
The following timeline has been recommended to the City by staff:
- Initiate work to complete studies and analysis – early October 2009
- All studies and analysis are completed - May 2010
- Review of studies and analysis – May to July 2010
- Public meetings held to share analysis and gather public input on disposition of
dam – July and August 2010
- Recommendation on disposition of dam completed - October 2010
- Findings and recommendation presented to public, Park Advisory Commission,
Environmental Commission and City Council – October to December 2010
- Council decision – January 2011
Stay posted for further reports on Argo Dam, including a deeper look at the possible impact on the rowing community, canoe liveries, and everyday citizens of Ann Arbor.
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