Ann Arbor releases Argo Dam Facilities Report before Tuesday work session
When the Ann Arbor City Council meets Tuesday, members are expected to hear options for the Argo Dam.
Those options - in response to a Michigan Department of Environmental Quality letter - could include repairing or removing the dam.
The fate of the dam has been hotly debated for more than a year. And city residents can now take a look at the Argo Dam Facilities Report, which was released today and will be discussed at the work session Tuesday.
The meeting will take place at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers.
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, which is 11 MB.The DEQ sent a certified letter to the city last month, demanding it take action by certain deadlines to address concerns about the city-owned dam on the Huron River north of downtown Ann Arbor.
The city now has until Nov. 1 to completely shut off the flow from Argo Dam's impoundment to the headrace, a 1,500-foot stretch of water that canoeists and kayakers use to bypass Argo Dam. The DEQ wants the headrace dewatered so the city can address lingering concerns with the embankment that separates it from the Huron River.
Comments
CAARP
Sun, Sep 13, 2009 : 3:17 p.m.
Next time you're down to Argo Pond, hike down below dam and wade out into the water. Tevas and shorts are good for this time of year. You'll notice the water's crystal clear and you can see all the way down to the bottom as you wade down towards the Gandy Dancer. In contrast, walk the trail along Argo down the hill from Longshore Drive. Every 50 yards or so hike down to the water's edge through the woods. I noticed all sorts of garbage washed up along Argo's bank, tons of dead, water-logged wood and decomposing vegetation. If you step down into the water you sink in to a black muck that emits a smell not unlike swamp. I row a bit, like to kayak as well. Fish, have fun letting my dog swim and generally enjoy much of what the Huron River has to offer. If removing the dam would give us the same quality of water we have below the dam, past Riverside and Fuller Parks, down through the Arb - I think it's something we should consider.
Charley Sullivan
Sun, Sep 13, 2009 : 7:41 a.m.
CAARP. Welcome to the conversation. A few questions: what did you row the water in? And what's your basis for saying that Gallup or Barton would be "adequate" in terms of distance for training for a rowing team a the college level? I'm just wondering.
CAARP
Fri, Sep 11, 2009 : 10:20 a.m.
Long time listener, first time caller... I'm afraid it's time for the dam to go. I've rowed all of the empoundments above Argo and below it (Barton, Gallup and Superior), measured distances alongside the waterways as best as I could on my bicycle, and all three are certainly adequate for the rowing teams in terms of distance and space to operate. Gallup, to me, was the best option as there's room to row all the way from Fuller field to Dixboro road. Gallup Park would also provide far greater exposure to the sport of rowing, thus increasing interest in the various clubs. About the only drawback I found in rowing the stretch was that the wind can sometimes pick up down the corridor from west to east. However, that would also play into the rowers' cardio workout favor when rowing back into the wind. Fresh, highly-oxygenated water running through the city of Ann Arbor is the way to go. Look to ask someone from South Bend in town this weekend for the football game what they think about their downtown river set up. It's what Ann Arbor needs.
CobraII
Tue, Sep 8, 2009 : 11:17 p.m.
Remove the dam, make a first class swamp like they made in Dexter!
TinyArtist
Tue, Sep 8, 2009 : 9:03 a.m.
I think the pond should go. It has become a smelly backwater with an increasing yuck factor. Rowers will be able to find other accommodations. Let's act for the greater good.
Laurel Erickson
Tue, Sep 8, 2009 : 6:13 a.m.
Keep the Dam / Preserve Argo Pond It's reductive to boil this issue down to non-rowers vs. a rower "vocal minority". I enjoy Argo Pond on many levels, and none of them has to do with rowing. Without a vote, none of us know who has the minority and who has the majority opinion.
larry
Mon, Sep 7, 2009 : 7:37 a.m.
Keep the dam. Removing the dam will NOT restore the "natural flow" of the river as there are other dams along its path that restrict its flow, and all of these would have to be removed to truly have a free-flowing river. Argo Pond provides a peaceful and serene environment in the urban downtown area, and is a great place to walk, canoe, or picnic. Draining Argo by removing the dam will expose unsightly low-lying wetlands which will also restrict access to the river. Keep the dam, it only makes sense.
Matt Van Auker
Sat, Sep 5, 2009 : 11:05 a.m.
Not bad, not bad, not bad. Somebody cares. I may be there. I love Argo Dam.
a2j
Sat, Sep 5, 2009 : 9:29 a.m.
Remove the dam! There are other sections of the river that can be used for rowing. Taking the dam out would open the area for many many other uses, improve the health of the river and take care of a structural and economic burden. I am a rower, have rowed the Huron and many other venues throughout the US and the world, really Argo isn't that great anyway it's often too crowded and is impossible to do and good steady state work. I think it's just easier for the "vocal minority" to be vocal because it would be harder to re-locate. It is not as though this would mean the end of rowing for Ann Arbor.
Dr. I. Emsayin
Sat, Sep 5, 2009 : 6:45 a.m.
The "minority" of roweres are the high school and college students who use the river every day. The other folks are armchair environmentalists who have "ideas" but are not as personally impacted. As a member of the high school community, I know how much having this stretch of river means to the schools who use it. The debate over river health is close enough on each side that there is no clear answer on the best solution. We have heard the dam is in as good shape as when it was built from the experts who know dams. Back in the 50's Argo was a swimming hole, and actual swim club. When the water is good enough for that again, and that goes on the docket, then I'll vote for swimming at Argo, meanwhile, let the people who are in the water use it!
braggslaw
Sat, Sep 5, 2009 : 6:06 a.m.
REMOVE THE DAM. It is the best economic and environmental solution. There is a loud MINORITY of rowers who have other choices, the Huron river has no choice. I don't want a stinky pond, I want high gradient, oxygenated water for kayaking, fishing etc. Don't let the vocal minority rule, do what is best for the city.
bruno
Fri, Sep 4, 2009 : 11:13 p.m.
save everyones time and money...what U of M wants will rule the roost in this one.