City has plans to drastically improve Hamilton Dam

A public open house Aug. 24 at the UM-Flint Northbank Center was held by the Wade Trim Engineering's Hamilton Dam restoration project team. Visitors and stakeholders viewed plans that call for replacing the existing dam with multi-tiered rock rapids. The new design, at a cost of about $600,000 funded by the city, provides a recreational opportunity as well as a new river stage for areas behind each rock cascade.

The project cost estimates are still being generated," said Jason Kenyon, Wade Trim vice president. "We should have this data available in the next two to three weeks. Congressman Dale Kildee is working diligently in Washington on efforts to get federal funds appropriated."

Steve Montle, the mayor's green city coordinator, said, "It's always a question mark when requesting federal funding but we are confident it's coming. Hamilton Dam is currently earmarked for federal dollars in the house and senate process. We've also requested funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers."

Currently, Hamilton Dam is functioning with only two of its six gates operational.

"Because of its age and vastly deteriorated condition, the dam is currently classified by state officials as 'high hazard critical dam,' Kenyon said. "The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment issued a consent order to the city to take action and address the problem immediately. A breach of the dam has the potential to result in significant property damage and possible loss of life."

"The critical condition of the dam is one of the things that is in our favor when requesting federal funding," Montle said.

The rock rapids have been carefully designed to create river channel characteristics that are more natural and able to pass the flows produced by the urbanized watershed, said Kenyon.

"The new design of the dam will allow for canoe or kayak passage. Flows will be moderate for a Michigan river — more of a ripple than a rapid — but river boating recreation will be there," Montle said.

"Only one operating dam gate rather than the original six will be part of the new proposed structure," Montle continued.

The proposed project will most likely be completed in phases, according to Kenyon because of the overall complexity, funding sources and costs.

"The proposed plan is to complete all work from the Hamilton Dam downstream to Grand Traverse Street as an initial phase likely to be completed over a two-year period," said Kenyon.

The proposed downtown Riverbank Park improvements and the long-term recommendations for the river corridor were included in the preliminary engineering study. But, funding for the Riverbank Park and water fountain amenities will likely come from alternative funding sources other than the federal government, Kenyon said.

Chevy in the Hole transformation, according to Kenyon, will likely be a future phase based on the availability of federal funding in years to come.

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