Traverse City -
Here's a development you don't see every day -
Traverse City is about to start construction on a ~$20 million "FishPass" - a selective two-way fish-sorting system that will replace the Union Street Dam. There are lot of entities involved - the city, the GLFC (Great Lakes Fishery Commission), the US Army Corp of Engineers, the state DNR, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Michigan State University, Spence Brothers Construction...
I find it interesting that it will be another decade plus before these entities have a complete plan for which species will be allowed to pass further upstream, once it is all up & running (construction completion is scheduled for end of 2022). Old treaties give the tribal council a say in the decisions. They want to block non-native species from traveling upriver.
According to
this article,
Quote:
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..construction crews will wall off half the river to build a labyrinth weir — a dam shaped like gear teeth — then a nature-like channel, Zielinski said. That new channel will carry water while the other half of the river’s blocked to build the 400-foot channel that’ll house fish-sorting equipment... then starts a 10-year search for an autonomous way to selectively sort fish headed upstream... those that do make it through the sorting equipment in that time won’t be allowed any farther, save some controlled releases. The Department of Natural Resources in consultation with the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians are working on deciding which species can ultimately pass, with Michigan State University’s assistance...
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The work also entails associated improvements to Union Street Dam Park, including new walkways, a new pedestrian bridge, a small amphitheater, and riverfront access.
• Video Link
Site Plan Rendering -
Source:
GLFC (Full-Size)
Section Rendering AA -
Source:
GLFC (Full-Size)
Section Rendering BB -
Source:
GLFC (Full-Size)
EDIT: Here's a picture of the current Union Street Dam, as seen on December 4, 2020 -
Source:
Big Rapids Pioneer | Jan-Michael Stump / Traverse City Record-Eagle via AP