Argo Pond frozen leap: Divers clear clogged Argo Dam water intakes
Erik Stemper, a Solomon Diving, Inc. diver from Monroe, gets ready to sprint to his warm-water-fed diving suit sitting on the river bank by the Argo Dam Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 1 in Ann Arbor. Stemper was helping clear out a blocked intake valve in the dam.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
Divers from Solomon Diving of Monroe found concrete blocks, an old motorcycle and shopping carts on top of an intake pipe that leads to the monitoring well at Argo Dam, which controls the dam gates. According to Molly Wade, water quality manager for the City of Ann Arbor, the divers were able to clear one of the water intakes, but a second one remains blocked where it enters the concrete hut that houses the control system for the dam.
Winter maintenance work was necessary on the dam because the control system that manages water levels failed on Jan. 22, causing flows downstream on the Huron River to fluctuate wildly. The repair work has restored some amount of control, but more work to clear the second intake pipe is expected this spring, according to Wade.
Thirty days of flow measurements downstream of Argo Dam, showing four days of erratic water levels.
US Geological Survey
Edward Vielmetti writes about the Huron River for AnnArbor.com.
Comments
Z-man
Tue, Feb 8, 2011 : 2:40 p.m.
Considering the escalating cost estimates for fixing the raceway and toe drains, putting in a new canoe portage, and maintaining the dam itself, it's now apparent that the removal of the dam is not only the best environmental solution, but the most economical as well. Isn't it time we restore this section of the river before the dam can do any more harm?
ribs1
Tue, Feb 8, 2011 : 2:32 p.m.
It is unacceptable that this problem will go on until spring. Currently the water level below the dam is dipping below 150cfs every day. This has to be a violation of the dam licensing and should be reported to Ferc and/or DNRE. As mmouradian says, these low fluctuations cause gravel to be exposed and aquatic insects to die. Don't care about insect's? Small fish eat insects, big fish eat small fish. Without the insects = no fish. No one seems to realize that there are 50 miles of river downstream of this dam. These fluctuations will have a negative impact all the way out to lake erie. This is an environmental disaster. I thought this was supposed to be an environmentally conscious city.
mmouradian
Tue, Feb 8, 2011 : 2:06 p.m.
Every time the gage shows a dip means that the fish, and aquatic insects that balance the health of the river perish. We heard the dam was in good shape and everything was working fine and now we find a shopping cart, and motorcycle and other debris found in front of the intake. Did these just show up in the last couple of months? Who did the inspection? What other surprises are in store. This may seem like a short term problem.... clean the intakes and all will be well but once the balance of plants , bugs, and fish are disturbed it may take years for that balance to return. In the mean time we will have a sick (smelly) river flowing through town. (if you comment you should use your name)
Bucky Dornster
Tue, Feb 8, 2011 : 12:05 p.m.
The waters directly below the dam, where people wade out to fish. are carpeted with zebra mussels. Thick as I've ever seen them anywhere in the Huron.
dading dont delete me bro
Mon, Feb 7, 2011 : 9:48 p.m.
can't we get this poor man a heated tent to get dressed up in?!? brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Willi
Mon, Feb 7, 2011 : 6:31 p.m.
Perhaps Ann Arbor needs this guy - he has no fear of ice cold water - <a href="http://dld.bz/KDrj" rel='nofollow'>http://dld.bz/KDrj</a>
Edward Vielmetti
Mon, Feb 7, 2011 : 5:24 p.m.
Rugger - One of the two intake valves is still clogged, and won't be unplugged until there's fair weather. I don't have any records yet that show zebra mussels, but I've asked for more information from the city including whatever report was generated by the diving company.
rugger
Mon, Feb 7, 2011 : 5:16 p.m.
What about the zebra mussels that were thought to be the cause? I guess a motorcycle and shopping carts kind of trumped the zebra mussel issue. Ed, thanks for covering this story. Keep it up!
Atticus F.
Mon, Feb 7, 2011 : 4:50 p.m.
I heard there was a train somwhere in that resevoir.