Fishway Ladder
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS A. Fishway B. Riverwalk C. DNR Compliance with NR 333 D. Dam Removal E. Property Issues F. Fish and Aquatic Life G. Wildlife H. Recreational Use A. Fishway 1. What is the estimated cost to build a fishway at Bridge Street dam? The engineering consultant, Bonestroo, has estimated the cost at $1.3 million per the NOAA grant. 2. If the fishway is constructed next year, will it have to be rebuilt when the dam needs to be removed and replaced? Essentially no. Most of the fishway is a separate upstream structure and will not be impacted by demolition and construction of a new dam. The fishway entrance area may need to be modified if a new dam is installed or if the dam abutments are altered. 3. Why is the fishway being constructed on the west bank of the river? The west bank allows land owned by the Village of Grafton to be used for a portion of the channel alignment. Furthermore, the heaviest construction will likely be in the area currently owned by the Village (penetration of the west dam abutment). Other advantages include the appeal to tourists able to view fish entering and ascending the fishway from the riverwalk, and the known presence of shallow bedrock helping assure good foundation characteristics. Furthermore, the historic mill race crosses the area, and a portion of the mill race alignment may assist with fishway construction. 4. How long will it take to complete the construction of the fishway? The fishway will be completed by late fall of 2010. 5. How will the property owners adjacent to the fishway be impacted during construction? The riverwalk will be closed during the construction of the fish ladder. Equipment and materials may need to be placed in the riverwalk area and the area between the riverwalk and the river. Any damage to this area would be fully restored as an integral part of the project. 6. Will additional property on either side of the dam need to be obtained to construct the fishway? No. The southern end of the fish passage will be constructed on property owned by the Village. The portions farther upstream will be constructed in or adjacent to the existing impoundment area. 7. What impact will building a fishway have on the current riverwalk and the overlook area? The design of the fishway will include temporary removal of the overlook area. It is the Village’s desire and a fundamental project goal for the overlook area to be rebuilt and include a grate that will allow viewing of fish swimming up the fishway. Any damage to the riverwalk beyond the overlook area will be fully restored. 8. Who will own and be responsible for the maintenance of the fishway? The Village of Grafton. 9. Will the fishway reduce the flooding of the riverwalk in the spring? The simple answer is “no.” Depending upon the ultimate design choices, however, the fishway may very modestly increase weir capacity, which may shorten the duration of the riverwalk flooding. 10. Is there a NOAA deadline for complying with the construction of the projects? By the end of October 2009, Ozaukee County must notify NOAA of the Village’s decision to either permanently remove the dam or install the fishway. All grant projects must be completed within the stipulated 18 month (December 2010) federal grant funding deadline. 11. What government agency will oversee the design and construction of either project? Ozaukee County is the lead agency for the NOAA grant. The Village will provide input to Ozaukee County. B. Riverwalk 1. Will the riverwalk need to removed or moved if a fish ladder is constructed? The fishway will not displace the riverwalk. However, the riverwalk will need to be closed during construction. One of the project goals is to make fish movement through the fishway visible to the public on the riverwalk, adding a very significant feature to the downtown. 2. Will the riverwalk be moved closer to the new river’s edge if the dam is removed? No, the new river’s edge is expected to be within 15 feet of the existing river’s edge. However, a bedrock escarpment will likely be exposed near the dam, placing the riverwalk well above the flowing river elevation. 3. What are the costs associated with extending the riverwalk north or south? If the dam remains in place, engineering challenges make it impossible for the Village to extend the riverwalk. If the dam is removed, the Village will be able to extend the riverwalk north of Washington Street and south of Bridge Street No estimates have been developed for the extensions. Funds from the NOAA grant can be used to offset the costs of a north riverwalk extension. C. DNR Compliance with NR 333 1. What does the DNR require of the Village for the current dam? On July 16, 2009, the DNR notified the Village that they had made a determination that the Bridge Street dam has a “Significant” hazard rating. Per NR 333.07, the Bridge Street dam is required to have a 500-year flood or spillway design capacity. It does not. Chapter NR 333.04(2)(b) of the Wisconsin Administrative code states: “the owners of existing dams shall bring their dams into compliance with the requirements of this chapter within 10 years after being notified of the dam’s hazard rating pursuant to sub (1), unless ordered to do so earlier under s. 31.19(5), Stats.” Consequently, DNR staff has informed the Village that the Village will have up to 10 years to comply with NR 333.07. As part of the DNR notification, the Village is required to perform a spillway capacity study within one year: July 16, 2010. Based upon the outcome of the study, the DNR will identify the specific spillway capacity deficiency of the dam and a timeline to bring the dam into compliance. The existing dam is a fixed crest, weir-style dam. Because this makes it impossible to increase the spillway capacity, the Village will be required to construct a new dam in order to comply with NR 333.07. 2. Why are dams assigned a Hazard Rating? The DNR oversees certain dams in Wisconsin. The DNR must ensure that dams are designed, constructed, and reconstructed so as to minimize the danger to life, health, and property. NR333.04 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code requires the DNR to assign a dam hazard rating to all large dams based upon findings of a dam failure analysis, which are usually conducted by the owner of the dam. 3. What generated the determination of the dam rating by the DNR at this time? The DNR reissued a dam failure analysis for the Bridge Street dam as a part of the Ozaukee County Map Modernization Project in 2007. The DNR inspected the dam on August 26, 2008, and conducted a site visit on July 7, 2009. The DNR issued its Dam Inspection Report for the Bridge Street dam on July 13, 2009, and its Hazard Assignment Rating on July 16, 2009. The DNR had previously issued an “apparent” hazard rating for the dam in September 1986. This was an estimate, however, and is not considered the formal Hazard Rating, which triggers the 10-year timeline for a spillway assessment. 4. What are the costs associated with the bringing the dam into compliance? Engineers have identified that the existing dam cannot be altered in order to meet NR 333.07. Consequently, the existing dam must be removed and a new dam constructed. The DNR estimated cost to remove the dam and construct a new dam is $4.0 million (in 2020 dollars). Additionally, the Village will need to devote operations and maintenance funds to keep the new dam in good working order and the dam’s gates in conformance with river flow. The Village should anticipate spending at least $100,000 every 10 years for this operations and maintenance effort. 5. What is the maintenance and costs to keep the existing dam for the next 10 years? The DNR-required engineering study will cost of $40,000. The study will evaluate the current structural condition as well as the spillway capacity deficiency. The study will also provide the Village with an update of the emergency action plan and create an operational and maintenance plan. In addition to this initial, comprehensive study, the recent revisions to State Statutes require an inspection to be completed three times within a ten year period. Typically, these inspections cost $8,000 to complete. 6. Has the Village initiated the update of the emergency action plan of the existing dam as required by the DNR to be completed by the end of 2010? No, the plan will be completed as part of the engineering study that will be done by July 2010. If the dam is removed, the emergency action plan will not be needed. D. Dam Removal 1. What is the pollutant content of sediment in the Bridge Street dam impoundment? Sediment samples were collected from the impoundment and analyzed for a variety of potential organic and inorganic chemical pollutants including polychlorinated biphynels (PCBs), polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals (e.g., lead). The results were compared to a range of criteria, and it was concluded that the sediments do not pose a threat to human health and the environment. 2. How will the sediments be managed in the Bridge Street dam impoundment area should the dam be removed? Sediments can safely be managed within the Bridge Street dam impoundment using a variety of bioengineered (e.g., native plants), engineered (e.g., rip rap), or combination of techniques.