A Better River For Everyone
Posted on 09. Jun, 2010 by Chip Richards in Whitewater
Current lowhead dam at the Bridgewater Building
Conceptual image- after the reengineering and beautification.
If nothing else, we need to make our river safer. The lowhead dam, top, is referred to as a drowning machine. Replacing the existing lowheads, known locally, and erroneously as cofferdams, would create a safer experience for river users. Lowhead dams produce a dangerous, perfect hydraulic that is difficult to navigate and too often impossible to escape. Remember, we do advocate keeping the Fish Ladder dam, aka 6th St Dam or 4th St dam. We are working with the city and engineers to design a proper portage around.
