RSSDam News: 12 – 18 October, 2012
“Dam news” is a round-up of news and events related to dams and dam removal, brought to you by the Clearinghouse for Dam Removal Information (CDRI), a project administered by the Water Resources Collections and Archives. Visit CDRI for more on dams and dam removal.
DNR Gives Extension for Estabrook Dam Improvements
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – Oct 18, 2012
The state Department of Natural Resources has agreed to extend the deadline for Milwaukee County to make repairs to the Estabrook Dam on the Milwaukee River to Dec. 31, 2014. The county is under orders from the DNR to fix or tear down the aging dam.
Brook Restoration Project Begins in Massachusetts
EP Magazine – Oct 18, 2012
In Pelham, Massachusetts, the project will be kicked off by the removal of the historic Bartlett Rod Shop Company Dam. This type of dam can alter and compromise habitat quality by obstructing the natural movement of organic matter, sediment, fish, and wildlife. Removal of the dam is expected to take five weeks and cost $193,000. In order to honor the historical nature of the site, a portion of the dam will remain intact.
Work Begins to Remove Amethyst Brook Dam in Pelham
MassLive.com – Oct 17, 2012
PELHAM – In a move that’s bound to make lots of slimy sculpin happy, workers removed the first stone from an 1820 dam on Amethyst Brook here on Wednesday, opening up another nine miles of upstream habitat for spawning fish.
Derry Council Deadlocks Over Taking Dam Ownership
The Union Leader – Oct 17, 2012
DERRY — With one councilor stepping down from the vote because of his relationship with dam owner and developer Jean Gagnon, the town council deadlocked 3-3 Tuesday over a proposal to have the town take control of the Adams Pond Dam.
Engineer Expresses Regret for Dam Removal Flooding in Traverse City
Detroit Free Press – Oct 16, 2012
EAST BAY TOWNSHIP, Mich. — An engineer working on a dam removal project in the northwestern Lower Peninsula is apologizing for an accidental flooding that damaged at least 53 properties along the Boardman River.
Hofmann Dam Removal Effort Wraps Up
Riverside Brookfield Landmark – Oct 16, 2012
Almost nine months after crews first began chipping away at the Fairbank Dam on the Des Plaines River back in late January, the Hofmann Dam removal project will largely wrap up this week, according to village officials and the U.S Army Corps of Engineers.
Dam Removal to Begin on Amethyst Brook in Pelham
MassLive.com – Oct 16, 2012
PELHAM – State and federal environmental officials will celebrate the beginning of the removal of the Bartlett Rod Shop Company Dam on Amethyst Brook today.
Xcel Expects 107-year-old Minnesota Falls Dam to be Removed by End of Year
West Central Tribune – Oct 14, 2012
GRANITE FALLS — Xcel Energy remains on track to remove the 107-year-old Minnesota Falls dam yet this year. A contractor is lined up for the project, but Xcel Energy is waiting for a final permit now under review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before work can begin.
Free NRWA Program on Dam Removal
Nashoba Publishing – Oct 12, 2012
GROTON — The Nashua River Watershed Association invites the public to a free presentation on “Dam Removal and River Restoration in Massachusetts” on Wednesday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m., at the NRWA River Resource Center, 592 Main St.
Sediment Strategies: Choosing a Sediment Management Option for Dam Removal
HydroWorld – Oct 12, 2012
Over the past decade, 20 to 50 dams have been removed annually in the U.S., according to American Rivers, a group that works to protect and restore rivers and streams in the country. The reasons behind these removals vary. This decision may be made during the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing process of a hydroelectric facility or to address a need for fish habitat restoration. Dam removal may be needed to deal with potential hazards during floods or seismic events or may be required due to structural deficiencies.
