Looking downstream of the dam. Pictured are the sandbags that stop water from entering into the site downstream. This is a view of what the river looked like when subgrading was partially complete (all those rocks actually have been purposefully moved to create the baseline elevation).
By Ellie Mason, Habitat Restoration Project Manager
We’ve officially begun the transition from demolition to restoration!
The remaining sections of the old dam have been removed, with salvaged timber now staged for disposal. Crews are also completing subgrading—a critical step that creates the foundation for building the new nature-like fishway. Think of it as preparing the riverbed so the fishway can be built at the correct elevation.
2 Excavators work to complete demolition of the dam spillway. Photo was taken looking towards cable pool park.
Pile driving, originally scheduled for this week, has been delayed until next week due to equipment availability. During that time, you may hear louder-than-usual construction noise as crews install the foundations for the new ice piers.
To keep the project on track for completion this fall, construction crews will also be working Saturday, August 15, and Saturday, August 22 with a smaller crew focused on key tasks.
The location of a new ice pier, prepared for the new foundation. In the background is the rock coffer dam, sheetpile that reinforces the coffer dam, and a pump that helps keep the ice pier areas dry so work can be done safely.