Metroparks to recommend replacing Flat Rock Dam with rock arches

• Huron-Clinton Metroparks workers will advocate her Board of Commissioners an alternate that the Flat Rock and Huroc-Dammen removes on the Huron River and replaces it with rock arches
• The choice of the rock arches would retain the watering and Wetlands created by the dams – an vital precedence of residents of the realm – whereas the fish and leisure passage on the river are improved

Huron-Clinton Metroparks will advocate eradicating the flat rock and huroc dams on the Huron River and to exchange them with put in rock arches that will preserve wetlands and water ranges within the impression behind the Dam-one care of the realm which have constructed their homes and have constructed across the age-old water icara.

The choice of the rock arches is predicted to enhance fishing on the Huron River, enhance the native ecosystem, whereas it’s supplied extra simply for actions resembling fishing, canoeing and kayaking.

The greater than 500 toes flat Rockdam was constructed within the late Twenties by Henry Ford for producing hydropower for his headlight manufacturing unit there, a purpose that it served till 1950. Ford Motor Co. The next 12 months, the Dam offered to the Huron-Clinton Metroparks Authority for $ 25,000. The operator in Southeast Michigan Parks has acquired the Dam to maintain the roughly 250-hectare water affirmation behind it and adjoining pure areas for leisure use.

However the flat rock dam and the smaller Huroc -dam just under are the primary vital barrier for fish that journey upstream from Lake Erie. Though a fish ladder was added to the dams within the Nineteen Nineties, the Michigan Division of Pure Sources nonetheless found that the dams restrict fishing and restrict the copy for a variety of appreciated sport fishing varieties, together with Lake Sturgeon, Walleye and White Bass. A letter from the DNR Fisheries Division to the Metroparks Authority reveals DNR officers who encourage the elimination of the flat rockdam in November 1984.

A 2020 Michigan Division of Atmosphere, Nice Lakes and Power Inspection of the Flat Rock Dam talked about its situation as ‘sincere’. It’s thought of a excessive -quality potential dam, which implies that failure could cause severe injury to vital infrastructure, a big impression on the surroundings or probably end in lack of life.

Many residents of the realm have posted “Save Flat Rock Dam” indicators of their yards, and a Fb group that requires the preservation of the dams has greater than 2,300 members.

Metroparks has evaluated alternate options for the previous two years. Among the many choices thought of:

• Don’t take motion on the dams however the set up of a brand new fishing street.
• The partial elimination of the flat rock and huroc -dams whereas retaining the same reservoir stage. Rock Arch Rapids, a gradual sloping slope product of rocks, permitting fish to go freely, can be added to any former dam website.
• Full elimination of each dams, which might take up the water stage with about 10 toes, hectares are at the moment uncovered immersed and the impression is extra just like the river phase additional upstream. On this situation, the energetic or passive restoration of the underside of the river backside can be a part of the plan.

Metroparks CEO Amy McMillan will advocate various no. 2, the Rock Arch Rapids, on the assembly of the Metroparks Board of Commissioners on August 14.

“This advice allows us to deal with worries about infrastructure and on the similar time retain the pure surroundings and what so many members of the group maintain the flat rockdam and waterways within the neighborhood,” McMillan mentioned in a press release. “Furthermore, it’s a confirmed technique of tackling problems with fish passage which have already been efficient within the state and the nation, and it’s financially extra financially possible than a full dam elimination. We consider that that is the appropriate choice for the Metroparks and the area as an entire.”

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The choice of the Rock Rapids has an estimated 50-year life cycle prices starting from $ 26 million to $ 28 million with supposed inflation-a significantly decrease quantity than the prices of a most of $ 43 million with full dam removals.

After receiving the advice throughout their assembly on Thursday 14 August, Metroparks supervisory administrators will most likely vote on future dam plans throughout their assembly of 11 September. Each conferences are open to the general public and public feedback are accepted. Go to for data www.metroparks.com.

Please contact Keith Matheny: kmatheny@freepress.com.