Ecosystem Restoration (Traverse City, MI)
Project Description
The Boardman River main stem is located in Grand Traverse and Kalkaska Counties and flows approximately 49 miles before entering West Grand Traverse Bay at Traverse City, Michigan. The project consists of potential modification or removal of up to four dams along the Boardman River: (1) the Union Street Dam at river mile 1.5; (2) the Sabin Dam at river mile 5.3; (3) the Boardman Dam at river mile 6.1; and (4) the Brown Bridge Dam at river mile 18.5. The Boardman River is a designated Natural River under the State of Michigan Natural Rivers Program and is a top-quality trout stream with 36 lineal miles designated with “Blue Ribbon” status. Modification or removal of the dams could restore several miles of river and reconnect 160 miles of aquatic habitat. Although all four dams are being considered for modification or removal, several alternatives will be evaluated. Significant coordination with the nonfederal sponsors and the public will help to ensure selection of the optimal overall plan.
Nonfederal Partners
- Grand Traverse County
- City of Traverse City
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources & Environment
Congressional Interest
- Senator Carl Levin (D-MI)
- Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
- Representative Dan Benishek (R-MI-1)
Current Status
A preliminary restoration plan was developed and approved in July 2006. Subsequently, Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act funds were used to initiate data collection and preliminary hydraulic modeling activities. A project management plan was prepared in FY2010 to summarize all federal and nonfederal project activity completed to date, and to scope out remaining activities required to complete the feasibility phase. FY2010 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funds were used to award an architect/engineer contract to complete feasibility phase efforts. A detailed project report (DPR) will result and is expected to include a fully coordinated environmental impact statement. Concurrent with these DPR efforts, nonfederal stakeholders are pursuing various grant opportunities to potentially remove the Brown Bridge Dam independent from the USACE.
Funding
| Total | Federal | Nonfederal | |
| Current working estimate | $7,200,000 | $4,680,000 | $2,520,000 |
| Funding to date | $1,575,000 | $1,575,000 | * |
| Funds required to complete project | $5,625,000 | $3,105,000 | $2,520,000 |
*No data provided.
Project Manager Carl A. Platz Click here to download a copy |