Boardman River Dams Ecosystem Restoration Project facts for kids
The Boardman River Dam Removal Project is a big effort in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. Its main goal is to take out three of the four dams on the Boardman River. This river flows from Kalkaska County all the way to the Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City.
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A Look Back: History of the Dams
A long time ago, in the late 1800s, a company called Queen City Light & Power built five dams on the Boardman River. The river is about 28 miles (45 kilometers) long. Four of these dams were still standing in the 2000s. They were originally built to create electricity using the river's power. However, by 2005, all the dams on the Boardman River stopped making electricity.
The Boardman River Dams
Brown Bridge Dam
The Brown Bridge Dam was built in 1921 by the City of Traverse City. It was about 18.5 miles (29.8 kilometers) upstream from the Grand Traverse Bay. This dam was made of earth and concrete. In October 2012, the dam broke. It was then completely removed in 2013. The large pond it created, called Brown Bridge Pond, is now a hilly area. It's full of different kinds of plants and animals. This area is now known as the Brown Bridge Quiet Area. It has become much larger since the dam was taken out.
Boardman Dam
The Boardman Dam was first built in 1894. It was rebuilt in 1930. This dam, along with a large earthen wall, created a pond called Keystone Pond. The Boardman Dam was taken down in 2017. When it was removed, Keystone Pond was drained. The river was then guided to flow under a brand new bridge called the Cass Road Bridge.
Sabin Dam
The Sabin Dam was built in 1902. It was located about 0.8 miles (1.3 kilometers) upstream from the Boardman Dam. Like the Boardman Dam, it was also rebuilt in 1930. This dam created Sabin Pond. The Sabin Dam was removed in 2018, and Sabin Pond was also drained.
Union Street Dam
The Union Street Dam is special because it's the only dam on the Boardman River that is not being removed. It is located right in downtown Traverse City, just east of Union Street. That's how it got its name!
The New Cass Road Bridge
Before 2016, the old Cass Road Bridge over the Boardman River was very old. It only had one lane, which made it difficult for traffic.
In May 2016, work began on building a new bridge. The old bridge was still used for a while. At that time, the river flowed under the old one-lane bridge and through the dam. The new bridge was built over dry land next to the river.
In June 2017, the next part of the project started. The large earthen wall that held back Keystone Pond was partly taken down. This allowed the river to flow in a controlled way under the new bridge. Soon after, Cass Road was closed. The old Boardman Dam and the one-lane bridge were removed. Keystone Pond was drained, and the river began flowing under the new, wider bridge. The part of the road where the old bridge used to be is now higher than the land around it.
