The Dams
This project involves four dams on the Boardman River:
- the Union Street Dam at river mile 1.5,
- Sabin Dam at 5.3,
- Boardman Dam at 6.1, and
- Brown Bridge Dam at 18.5.
Below is a summary of each.
Union Street Dam
Union Street Dam
The Union Street Dam was constructed in 1867 to supply power for a now defunct flourmill. It is owned by the City of Traverse City (referred to as Traverse City from this point on) and its current purpose is to maintain the water level in Boardman Lake. The dam is composed of earthen materials and steel sheet pile. The dam has a fish ladder, constructed to allow migration of potomadromous salmon and trout while blocking upstream sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) migration. The dam's impoundment, Boardman Lake, is a natural lake that was originally 259 acres in size and increased to 339 acres after the Union Street Dam was constructed. There are approximately 40 privately owned parcels and two parks, one with a boat ramp, on Boardman Lake.
Sabin Dam
Sabin Dam
Sabin Dam was constructed in 1906 and was rebuilt to its current configuration in 1930. It is an earthen and concrete dam with a powerhouse capable of generating 500 kilowatts (0.5 megawatt) The dam's impoundment, Sabin Pond, has a drainage area of 269 sq. miles.Sabin Dam is owned by Grand Traverse County and generates hydropower for Traverse City Light and Power Department, a community-owned, municipal utility. By agreement between Grand Traverse County and TCLPD, the Sabin Dam was retrofitted to produce hydropower and began generating in 1986. Sabin Dam is currently operated as a run-of-river dam. A run-of-river dam is a hydroelectric dam lacking a large reservoir and, therefore, with only a limited capacity for water storage. This means a run-of-river dam has limited control over its outflow and power generation.
Boardman Dam
Boardman Dam
Also locally referred to as Keystone Dam, Boardman Dam was constructed in 1894 and rebuilt to its current configuration in 1930. It is an earthen and concrete dam with a powerhouse capable of generating 1,000 kilowatts (1.0 megawatt). It is owned by Grand Traverse County and generates hydropower for TCLPD. The Boardman Dam is currently operated as a run-of-river dam. The Boardman Dam spillway is crossed over by a one-lane bridge connecting two sections of Cass Road, a county road. Like the dam, this impoundment is known locally as both Boardman Pond and Keystone Pond. Boardman Pond has a drainage area of 267 sq. miles. Twenty-seven private parcels either border or have deeded access to Boardman Pond.
Brown Bridge Dam
Brown Bridge Dam
Brown Bridge Dam was constructed in 1921 and is an earthen and concrete dam with a powerhouse capable of generating 725 kilowatts (0.725 megawatt). It is also owned by Traverse City and generates hydropower for TCLPD. Brown Bridge Dam is operated as a run-of-river dam. Its impoundment, Brown Bridge Pond, has a drainage area of 151 sq. miles.
(Taken from the Preliminary Restoration Plan for the Boardman River.)