Great Lakes Fishery Commission and Shiatown Dam

Back in January I quickly whipped up a pre-prosal funding document
for the removal of the Shiatown Dam and entered it into the official system.
The good folks at the GLFC took a look at it but shot down the funding proposal.
I see it as mission accomplished - it's on peoples radar as needing attention.

Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC)
Board of Technical Experts
Fishery Research Program

Removal of the Shiatown Dam issues

a.) Dams are used by the commission and its agents to control Sea Lamprey Populations
Removal of a dam must include an analysis of the effect on sea lamprey production.

b.) Pursue funding programs such as the Great Lakes Fishery and Ecosystem Restoration Program (GLFER).
This program provides funds for fishery restoration activities, including dam removal.
Contact Carl Platz at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for information about how to apply for GLFER.

c.) Next year’s pre-proposals will be due in mid-January 2011.

d.) The board seeks distinct deliverables and methods to address objectives of the proposal.

Charles Krueger - ckrueger@glfc.org
along with :
Sarah (Zahn) Seegert
Fishery Research Program Associate
Great Lakes Fishery Commission
2100 Commonwealth Blvd. Suite 100
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
e-mail: sseegert@glfc.org
Phone: 734-662-3209 x11

The pre-proposal I wrote in a hour obviously needs a full blown project management approach to be viable for funding

RATIONALE: Currently the dam is owned by the Michigan Land Bank Authority via tax default of a private owner.
The dam provides no flood control and in fact has been the site of 5 deaths over the past 20 years.
It is ill suited to the production of hydroelectric revenue as 4 prior owners defaulted on taxes due to lack of revenue from power generation.
The Shiawassee Watershed is a warm water environment conducive to many species of fish and mussels.
Enabling the river to run unobstructed will benefit the ecology of the region.
Blue Infrastructure definitely has a economic benefits.
People choose to live and work in areas where paddlesports recreation is readily available.
People are willing to pay a premium for locations with high quality green & blue infrastructure
i.e. recreational areas have significant impact on property values.
High quality natural and environmental amenities attract commercial development , jobs, and people.
They help support the quality of life of local residents and foster community attachment.
Talent tends to migrate to places with significant green & blue infrastructure.

OBJECTIVES:
1.) Remove the Shiatown Dam on the Shiawassee River
2.) Enable a natural free-flow state conducive to many species of fish and mussels.
3.) Increase usage and profitability to the region with eco-tourism via fishing and paddlesports
http://shiawassee-river.blogspot.com/2009/12/paddle-sports-grow-larger.html

METHODS:
1.) Work with all governmental agencies in the systematic removal of debris currently on site
2.) Obtain competitive bids regarding sedimentation testing and revealing usability of sediment
3.) Collaborate with independent engineering firms regarding various dismantling strategies
4.) File proper permit applications and have work done in stages to minimize sediment flow downstream.

RELEVANCE TO PROGRAM:
Human Dimension of Fishery Management
Ownership of a dam is a legal liability to the State of Michigan and an economic liability.
The human dimension of dams has evolved from a necessity for civilization to one of hindering the ecology of the region.
Fishery management, as a key stakeholder, wins from dam removal as it allows nature to work efficiently for fish survivability.
Saginaw Bay is basically choked with far too many dams on the rivers that dump into it.
Improving fish passage is a sure shot to increase natural reproduction.
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