Updated: 'River millage' floated as option for maintaining a healthy Huron River in Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor officials are considering creating a River Stewardship Committee for the Huron River.

File photo

But council members said Monday night they aren't yet ready to throw their support behind the plan.

"We certainly haven't had enough time to study the recommendations here," said Council Member Stephen Rapundalo, D-2nd Ward.

The Ann Arbor City Council voted 11-0 Monday night to delay action until Dec. 7 on a resolution supporting the Huron River and Impoundment Management Plan and 30 consensus recommendations by the city's Environmental Commission. The resolution is sponsored by Council Members Margie Teall, D-4th Ward, and Carsten Hohnke, D-5th Ward.

Hohnke said he's OK with a 3-week postponement but hopes council members engage city staff in that time to get their questions answered. He said the Huron River deserves to have a plan in place for its protection.

"We have a plan for our parks, our downtown, our transportation system, and the evolution of our solid waste service, but no plan for the most important natural resource in our city," Hohnke said. "It's time to take that proactive step, and we're fortunate to now have a consensus, comprehensive plan that does just that."

Hohnke said he doesn't personally support a river millage at this time, but didn't object to maintaining it as one of the 30 consensus recommendations. He said it makes sense to go through the exercise of understanding the financial implication of "recommendations that were generated by the very hard working, taxpaying, volunteer citizens and staff."

The resolution recommends operation and maintenance of the city's two "recreational dams" - Argo and Geddes - no longer be funded from the city's Drinking Water Enterprise Fund. It proposes funds currently spent on the dams from that fund be reallocated to implement a plan to protect Ann Arbor's drinking water supply.

The Huron River in Ann Arbor is highly used for recreational purposes and is bordered by multiple parks forming a greenway along the river. The city owns the majority of the land along the river and maintains four dams: Barton, Argo, Geddes and Superior, two of which (Barton and Superior) generate hydroelectric power, and three of which create impoundments used for recreation and sport.

This map showing the location of dams along the Huron River in Ann Arbor is included in the HRIMP report on the city's Web site.

Council members said Monday night they think the fate of Argo Dam has taken a front seat in recent discussions on the topic. They said they wanted more time to step back and look at the total picture involving the Huron River.

"The last time we had an opportunity to really look at the HRIMP proposal, we were all focused on Argo - the dam - whether we should keep it or not," said Council Member Sabra Briere, D-1st Ward. "And we did not as a body - most of us - look at any of the other 30 proposals, and I would like the opportunity to do that."

The Environmental Commission created a committee 3 years ago to develop a plan for managing the Huron River. The draft plan and proposals are the result of extensive information gathering, expert input and public engagement, Hohnke and Teall said Monday night.

The resolution sponsored by the two council members claims recreational uses are often impaired by the growth of invasive aquatic vegetation in the impoundments. The plan recognizes the need for regular monitoring and maintenance to support continued recreational use and says a "sustainable funding mechanism" will be needed for that.

The plan calls for improving riparian buffers along the Huron River and tributary streams to reduce pollution and recommends mechanical harvesting be used to control nuisance aquatic vegetation. The plan also states the city's Natural Area Preservation program lacks staff and financial resources to provide stewardship of aquatic natural areas and recommends expanding the program.

Council Member Margie Teall, D-4th Ward, is one of two council members proposing the city pass a resolution accepting the HRIMP report and 30 recommendations for maintaining a healthy Huron River.

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

Hohnke said the River Stewardship Committee would include representatives from the City Council, Environmental Commission, Energy Commission, Park Advisory Commission and others appointed by City Council with expertise in river science and river recreation.

The city is still in discussions with the state Department of Environmental Quality over the condition of Argo Dam and whether it needs repairs the DEQ is mandating.

The city continues to contest a safety order issued by the DEQ in August that asks the city to evaluate its options for addressing Argo Dam's deficiencies by April 30. If the city decides to keep the dam in place, the DEQ said it has until Dec. 31, 2010, to fix embankment problems. If the city decides to remove the dam, which city officials are considering, it must be done by Dec. 31, 2012.

Sue McCormick, the city's public services area administrator, said Monday night it could take 15 to 18 months to do scientific evaluation of the quality impacts on the river or the impacts of removing the impoundment. She also said that could cost the city $185,000.

"There's a bit of a conundrum with regards to having authorized funds and then getting the studies done," she said. "This timeline really doesn't respect that. It's really one of the reason why we challenged the order."

McCormick said the city can't put off repairs to Argo Dam forever, but based on preliminary analysis, the city believes there is no imminent risk of a dam failure. She said the DEQ should allow the city to take the time "to go through a deliberate contemplative process if that's what the community desires in consideration of the fate of the dam."

Ryan J. Stanton covers government for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.