Flat Rock dam’s potential removal has some worried for life without it

Huron-Clinton Metroparks investigates choices with the flat rock and huroc dams on the Huron-River-inclusive, doable, their elimination

• The actions studied are designed to enhance fish journeys and pure habitats.
• Residents say that eradicating the dams would injury their peaceable life-style.

Notice of the editors: This story has been tailored from its unique type to appropriate a spelling mistake.

Huron-Clinton Metroparks is contemplating what to do with an virtually historical dam that has the possession of the Huron River in flat rock-including the doable. However that’s an choice that has many within the close by group that aren’t keen to go along with the ability.

The greater than 500 ft flat Rockdam was constructed within the late Nineteen Twenties by Henry Ford for producing hydropower for his headlight manufacturing unit there, a objective that it served till 1950. Ford Motor Co. The next yr, the Dam bought 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.

Generations have since constructed up a life across the impression.

“That is the guts’s breach of Space -residents, their lives,” mentioned Marcie Grzywacz, a councilor of town of Rockwood, simply downriver of flat Rock and the Dam.

“They frolicked with fish there, within the parks, kayaking and canoeing. Their life is predicated on the water.”

However the flat rock dam and the smaller Huroc -dam just under are the primary essential barrier for fish that journey upstream from Lake Erie. Though a fish ladder was added within the dams on the finish of 1990, the Michigan Division of Pure Assets nonetheless found that the dams restrict fishing and restrict the replica for quite a few appreciated sport fishing sorts, together with Lake Sturgeon, Walleye and White Bass.

Choices for the dams

A letter from the DNR Fisheries Division to the Metroparks Authority exhibits DNR officers who encourage the elimination of the flat rockdam in November 1984.

In 2022, Metroparks, in collaboration with the DNR, the Nice Lakes Fishery Fee, Huron River Watershed Council and the Metropolis of Flat Rock efficiently submitted for a Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Regional Partnership Greatal Initiat. The subsidy was used to conduct a feasibility examine for various choices for the flat rock and huroc -dams “that will profit the local people and pure habitats”, a report from consultants within the public sector, a contractor who’s employed as a part of the evaluation, says.

The concept of feasibility study was launched in February, with an area public assembly that was subsequently held in March. Options thought of:

• Don’t take motion on the dams however the set up of a brand new fishing highway.
• The partial elimination of the flat rock and huroc -dams whereas retaining the same reservoir stage. Rock Arch Rapids, a gradual sloping slope manufactured from rocks that permit fish to cross freely, can be added to each dam.
• Full elimination of each dams, which might take up the water stage with about 10 ft, hectares are at present uncovered immersed and the impression is extra just like the river section additional upstream. On this state of affairs, the energetic or passive restoration of the underside of the river backside can be a part of the plan.

An American fishing and nature providers evaluation signifies that the potential dam removals will not be anticipated to trigger a big enhance in invasive, sport fishing sea lamprei additional the Huron river, mentioned Greg McClinchey, spokesperson for the Nice Lakes Fishery Fee.

Huron-Clinton Metroparks spokeswoman Danielle Mauter emphasised that no various has been determined.

“Because of this there may be at present no proposal to take away the dam,” she mentioned. “The step we’re on continues to be the feasibility examine, which is just the very first step in advanced initiatives resembling this one.”

Residents need to shield the life-style constructed across the present

Each various would nonetheless require future examine and design phases and may meet the allow necessities of a number of departments and companies earlier than he continues, Mauter mentioned.

However solely the record of full elimination of the dams as an choice has woke up the passions of many in the neighborhood. A Fb group, “Save the flat rockdam,” Has 1200 members. A corresponding petition -drive to maintain the dams, organized by Grzywacz, has 350 signators and rises. “Save Flat Rock Dam” indicators are displayed on lawns within the belonging.

Grzywacz mentioned she began the motion and petition after “folks simply talked about it and didn’t actually take motion.” A lot of her voters in Rockwood are simply as fearful as these in flat rock.

“Elimination of these dams modifications the life-style and high quality of life dramatically for individuals who reside within the neighborhood,” she mentioned. “Property values ​​would lower and that water would hurry down. It’s a nice concern for all surrounding cities, not simply flat rock.”

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Kelly Trombly, supervisor of the close by Township Huron, mentioned that “she is” robust reverse the elimination of the dam “, just about” the significantly opposed penalties that this resolution may have on our residents and the group generally. “

Shannon Barrett lives on James Avenue in flat Rock, straight upstream of the Dam, in her home of greater than 12 years.

“I purchased this home like my at house eternally, and the river as it’s it was the essential a part of my resolution,” she mentioned.

“We kayak, we padleboard. The grandchildren come over, the nieces and cousins, and we simply calm down exterior with nature – the swans, the geese, the birds, the fish. That the whole lot can be influenced in the event that they do the entire elimination of this dam.”

By way of household who lives elsewhere in Michigan, she has seen the deletions of Dam left “a stankwas walked”.

A 2020 Michigan Division of Surroundings, Nice Lakes and Power Inspection of the Flat Rock Dam talked about its situation as ‘trustworthy’.

“Why even contact the dams?” Stated Barrett. “Whether it is in regards to the fish ladder, enhance the fish ladder. Use that subsidy to retain the dam.”

Suggestions from the Neighborhood obtained in public conferences on the finish of 2023 and 6 March of this yr, and public feedback that had been submitted as much as and together with 17 March can be included within the draft -to -ripability examine, with additional public conferences that come this summer season, Mauter mentioned.

Please contact Keith Matheny: kmatheny@freepress.com.