People: the dam is coming out. It is undeniably for the greater good.

Accept it and move on.

Thank you for your acknowledgement and for your definition of weed choked, I can see how there might be a misunderstanding of definition. These are important points to begin a conversation about Argo Pond.

I do have some food for thought regarding the current users of the pond. I will start with canoe and kayak paddlers. There are a variety of paddlers, watercraft and skill levels. I would say that the Pond serves a group of paddlers who would not otherwise attempt a boat ride. These paddlers are novices, folks who have never paddled before or infrequently. They are most comfortable on Argo Pond.

Next are the rowers, based on the sizes of rowing shells; the teams have limited water options due to the infrastructure required. Rowing shells range from 26 feet to 65 feet in length. Storage and handling practices are critical. A safe boathouse, safe accesses to the water and loads of training on care for equipment are hallmarks of the rowers I have met. The amount of so-called rowable water is very limited in the Ann Arbor area especially when the size of the boats is considered. Keep in mind you cannot store the boat in your garage or in the case of large boats, carry them on the roof of your car.

In my time on Argo, I have come to know many of these rowers both young and old. They work hard at rowing, and display huge amounts of teamwork and camaraderie. I say this to put a face of the 600 souls who have a passion for rowing. To have the dam removed would have a lasting negative effect on rowing in Ann Arbor especially on the high school and college kids. Have you met the wheelchair bound rowers? Have you witnessed the visually impaired rower on the water? The shear joy of not being shackled to a cane or a wheelchair must be almost overwhelming.

My question to you is whether you have considered the impact to these people in your pursuit to remove the dam?

I respect that you have first-hand experience with the conditions in Argo Pond. I think it will benefit readers if you would share your thoughts specific to aquatic vegetation and any management, if necessary, that users must do to recreate on the pond.

My observations are that weed growth occurs most heavily during summer months. I’ve used the word “choke” to describe these conditions and by that I mean that navigating the pond by canoe or kayak necessitates contending with the vegetation. The aquatic weeds are a nuisance to paddles as they would be to propellers on an outboard motor.

In commenting in these forums, my position is that dam removal will be a benefit to current and future users who will prefer a free-flowing section of river to one that is impounded. Out-of-town users like myself will help your community off-set the cost of removal by supporting local businesses, paying user fees, and feeding Ann Arbor’s famous parking meters. I’d be interested in seeing an estimate for the per-resident cost of dam removal and restoration, since this is often present in anti-removal arguments.

Good day to you. Just to let you know, my perspective is from the water, not from the shore. When you get a chance, please help me understand your definition of “weed choked” it seems to run contrary to your statement that the rowing community is managing the weeds. Your clarification of this point in your earlier argument is germane to the point you seem to be trying to make.

Thank you for the links, however, I am confused with the position you are trying to support. The visual predictions are apparently artist’s renderings of a hoped for future. I must say that the drawings appear to be a panacea for the Huron River and its flow. I have my doubts of the accuracy of these predictions, although the drawings are interesting and truly show the author’s dreams.

At any rate, I believe it might be a more relevant argument to consider the topography of the river corridor combined with the current buildings and infrastructure that exist today along the shores. At the end of the day, I believe your initial argument supports your bias toward removal of the dam to the detriment of the current population that uses the river for fishing, paddling, rowing, personal reflection, walking, photography, etc. and instills a financial burden the folks who live in Ann Arbor and not on you.

I agree with you that rivers bend, but not at such a dramatic, unnatural fashion as the Huron at Argo Dam. An oxbow is a cut-off portion of a river caused (over time) when a river meaders. There is no meander at Argo Dam–it’s impossible. For a well-informed visual prediction of the course of the Huron River with Argo Dam removed, please spend some time inspecting these sites:

Excerpt from U of M student study: Link to .PDF file

Recent renderings released by HRWC: Link to .PDF file

Just a quick point or two regarding your comment above.
I disagree with your opinion “a weed choked impoundment”, during my travels on Argo Pond, I did not and do not see the condition you avidly point out.
The 90-degree turn is a condition often seen on rivers, at least the rivers in Michigan that I have traveled, these by definitions are are “Ox-bows”, and in fact, these are often up to 180-degree switchbacks.
Finally, the current pond already serves thousands of residents of Ann Arbor and visitors from out of town such as yourself.

FYI; I was on the pond yesterday, it was wonderful.