Title
Resolution Pertaining to Argo Dam
Body
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor has for years owned and maintained several dams along the Huron River, and
Whereas, Studies of the Huron River have raised the question of the need to manage the river and each of the impoundments created by these dams, and
Whereas, The Argo Dam and Argo Pond have recently become the focal point for considerable discussion about the "pros and cons" of keeping the Argo Dam in place, and
Whereas, The Ann Arbor community enjoys many recreational opportunities and environmental attributes created by the existence of Argo Pond within the Huron River system, and
Whereas, The best interests of the Ann Arbor community will be served by preserving the Argo Dam at this time given its sound structural integrity, and
WHEREAS, The Argo Dam includes several associated structural features, including the "headrace embankment", which has drawn the concern of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) for safety reasons related to the adequacy of toe-drains which are designed to drain seepage from the headrace, and
WHEREAS, Repairs to the headrace embankment could be completed for a small fraction of the cost of removing the entire dam, and therefore be it
RESOLVED, The Ann Arbor City Council declares its intent to maintain the Argo Dam and Argo Pond for the time being and allow staff to develop and implement specific strategies to mitigate any infrastructure deficiencies with the headrace embankment and thereby satisfy the MDEQ's requirements, and
RESOLVED, The Ann Arbor City Council directs the City Administrator to take actions in support of this declared intent, including identifying a timetable and necessary funding sources to support the infrastructure improvements.
Sponsored by: Councilmembers Marcia Higgins, Stephen Rapundalo, Sandi Smith