Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Answers sought on Wapsi dams
 |
| The Wapsipinicon Mill sits at the edge of the river in Independence next to a dam. The effects of dams such as these is under study with several options possible for minimizing their impact. |
By Michael Hohenbrink, Editor
HAZLETON - Area conservation officials are stressing that no final decision has been made to pull dams from along the Wapsipinicon River.
This comes after a published report said the familiar sights along the river might be removed.
“No final decision has been made on any dam in Buchanan County,” said Dan Cohen, director of the
Buchanan County Conservation Board.
Concerns on water quality prompted the Buchanan County Four Seasons Trails Association, with grant writing assistance by the Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) council in Postville to hire a professional to assess the county's dams. During a meeting Oct. 1, group members learned about management options. These include:
• Doing nothing - no action.
• No action except providing better warnings to river users about the physical dangers of the dam.
• Dam removal with no other action.
• Dam removal with varying degrees of river enhancements to create a meandering river with improved habitat.
• Dam backfilling, resulting in a series of pools or rapids below a dam while keeping the reservoir in its current state.
• Creating auxiliary fishways that allow fish, and possibly boats, to traverse the dam area while keeping the reservoir in its current state.
Municipalities that manage dams, the Buchanan County Conservation Board, and the Trails Association provided the grant cost-share.
“It was informational,” explained Cohen about the meeting.
Cohen stressed that no decision making has yet occurred. Prior to making a decision, input will be sought from the public. A public meeting is planned, Cohen said, although date and time information needs to be finalized.
Editor's Note: See Guest Column Page A4
This comes after a published report said the familiar sights along the river might be removed.
“No final decision has been made on any dam in Buchanan County,” said Dan Cohen, director of the
Buchanan County Conservation Board.
Concerns on water quality prompted the Buchanan County Four Seasons Trails Association, with grant writing assistance by the Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) council in Postville to hire a professional to assess the county's dams. During a meeting Oct. 1, group members learned about management options. These include:
• Doing nothing - no action.
• No action except providing better warnings to river users about the physical dangers of the dam.
• Dam removal with no other action.
• Dam removal with varying degrees of river enhancements to create a meandering river with improved habitat.
• Dam backfilling, resulting in a series of pools or rapids below a dam while keeping the reservoir in its current state.
• Creating auxiliary fishways that allow fish, and possibly boats, to traverse the dam area while keeping the reservoir in its current state.
Municipalities that manage dams, the Buchanan County Conservation Board, and the Trails Association provided the grant cost-share.
“It was informational,” explained Cohen about the meeting.
Cohen stressed that no decision making has yet occurred. Prior to making a decision, input will be sought from the public. A public meeting is planned, Cohen said, although date and time information needs to be finalized.
Editor's Note: See Guest Column Page A4
 |
 |
|
| IL&P,T celebrates 115 years of service | Wapsie Valley will try again |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of communitynewspapergroup.com.
john fitzgerald wrote on Dec 1, 2008 8:57 PM: