Remaking a river
Demolition crews in August took down the old powerhouse at the Brown Bridge Dam near Traverse City. This is part of a larger project to remove two dams and modify a third on the waterway.
Bridge photo contributor John Russell reports that the powerhouse was built in 1922; was 33 feet above the waterline; and operated until 2006. The man-made pond behind it became 191 acres, and was drawn down beginning in the fall of 2011.
According to The Boardman, an advocacy group, the process to remove the Brown dam began back in 2005 when discussions started on what to do since the dams were no longer viable energy producers.
For more information about the project, visit theboardman.org.
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