Pucker St Dam Updates

Recent Updates
Boat Launch and Access Now OPEN
Dowagiac River boat launch and access is now open to the public at the former dam site. Please remember this is in conjunction with an active construction site - follow directional signage and stay out of construction areas. Attempts will be made to give advanced notice if the boat launch areas will be closed for localized construction. Thank you everyone for your support and patience.
Downstream Monitoring Data
Staff from Michigan Department of Natural Resources  - Fisheries Division and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi  - Natural Resources Department have been monitoring the stream channel at two transects (one riffle and one pool) downstream of the Pucker Street Dam since June 2020. The purpose of this monitoring is to assess sediment transport and compare current stream cross-sectional areas within the bankfull channel to the cross-sectional areas prior to the onset of dam removal activities. This monitoring is performed using a laser level for points above the existing water surface. For points within the wetted stream channel, the sediment surface is mapped using a sonar unit attached to a small boat that is pulled across the channel with a pulley system. To account for slight variations in boat positioning, four passes are made at each transect. The cross-sectional areas from the four passes are averaged to obtain one estimate for each sampling date. If the cross-sectional area at either site varies by more than 20% of the pre-dam removal value (recorded on June 2, 2020), work will stop until adjustments are made to reduce sediment transport from the impoundment. To date, changes to the cross-sectional areas have been well below this threshold.

Downstream Monitoring Data
Dowagiac Flyover 05/11/2021
Jobsite Tour of Pucker Dam Project
Park Closing Until TBD
Park at dam closing tomorrow 9th of December until TBD
Mayfly Monitoring Station Offline
11/24: The Mayfly Monitoring Station will be offline until further notice. 
Excavation Schedule Wks 10/12/2020 and 10/19/2020
The excavation crews will not be onsite the weeks of  10/12/2020 and 10/19/2020 
Losensky Park Opening

The City of Niles has opened portions of Losensky Park for river access from September 1st to October 31st, 2020

This is an active construction site, proceed at your own risk. Respect No Access areas.

Progress Meeting 8/27/2020

WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS?

Park is still closed, but will be opened 9/1/2020 through 10/31/2020. Stage 1 drawdown is complete; Dowagiac River is at 672.00.  Excavation to Station 44+00 on the east side and 29+00 on the west side was completed. 

 

WHAT IS SCHEDULED FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS?

Excavation expected to be complete to the Station 28+00 on the west side with cleanup and seeding, finish the section at the northern end, and then move back to the east side. 

Progress Meeting 6/18/2020

WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS?

Park is still closed, please respect the signage. River lowered to 665.50. Sections of the eastern half of the dam removed.

 WHAT IS SCHEDULED FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS?

Drawdown and cofferdam work continues for next two weeks. Excavation will start upstream on June 23rd.         

Progress Meeting 6/4/2020

WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS?

Park is still closed, please respect the signage. River lowered to 679.35 (Day 3 of Drawdown). Two gates were removed and salvaged for the City.

WHAT IS SCHEDULED FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS?

Drawdown and cofferdam work continues for next two weeks. Excavation will start upstream on June 15th based on current drawdown schedule.         

2020-06-10 16.28.08

Progress Meeting 5/7/2020

WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS?

Milbocker is back on site putting in access roads and preparing for site work at Losensky Park.

WHAT IS SCHEDULED FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS?

Work for cofferdam installation will be starting soon. Be prepared for the park to be closed once that work begins.

Construction on Pucker Street Dam Resumes
Progress Meeting 4/9/2020

WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS?

Access work was begun, work stopped for two weeks to allow Milbocker time to purchase PPE and train staff.  Back to work 4/20/2020.

 

WHAT IS SCHEDULED FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS?

Barring any additional work stoppage related to Covid-19, construction of the access roads will continue with installation of the gates.  Work behind the dam within the river will begin April 20.

Construction resuming April 20, 2020
Due to COVID-19 the contractor will not be actively working on site for the next two weeks. We are planning to resume construction on or around April 20th. We will update this timeline as necessary and will continue to respond to emails submitted through this web site. Thank you for your understanding and stay safe everyone.
Demolition Time Lapse
Progress Meeting 3/26/2020

Progress Meeting 3/26/2020

 

WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS?

Tree dropping is done, much of the cleanup has been completed.  Work has started on access roads.

 

WHAT IS SCHEDULED FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS?

Barring any work stoppage related to Covid-19, construction of the access roads will continue with installation of the gates.  Work behind the dam within the river will begin April 1.

Progress Meeting 3/12/2020

WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS?

Tree removals were started.  Almost all trees have been dropped.

 

WHAT IS SCHEDULED FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS?

Finish cutting trees.  Clean up of trees and brush.  The access road construction will start next week.  The powerhouse is closed to pedestrians, maintain a safe distance from the structure and outside of the fencing.  Maintain a safe distance from work on the park site.

Phase 2 Beginning

Phase 2 work is beginning and expected to last throughout the remainder of 2020. This work includes, installing access roads, tree clearing and river work. 

Phase 1 Complete 12/05/19
Phase 1 has been completed.

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Progress Meeting 09/24/2019

WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS?

Demolition of the upper powerhouse is complete.

 

WHAT IS SCHEDULED FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS?

The site will be temporarily shut down until phase 2 begins.  The powerhouse is closed to pedestrians, maintain a safe distance from the structure and outside of the fencing.

Powerhouse Demolition Update
If all goes well, powerhouse will be down by end of next week (week starting Sept 23rd).
Progress Meeting Notes 09/12/2019- Powerhouse Demolition Beginning Tuesday September 16.

Progress Meeting 9/12/2019

WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS?

Milbocker was not onsite during the last two weeks.

WHAT IS SCHEDULED FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS?

Starting Tuesday, September 16, 2019, the powerhouse demolition will begin.  
Progress Meeting Minutes - Aug 29, 2019

WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS?

The concrete floor of the raceway was removed, steel reinforcement separated, and access to the powerhouse was built. Snow fence is up to keep site work areas separate from pedestrians.  The City installed a gate at the park entry for closures when necessary.

WHAT IS SCHEDULED FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS?

Starting Tuesday, September 3, 2019, the powerhouse demolition will begin.  Coordination with the landfill for disposal is complete. 

No Construction Week of Aug 26 - Aug 30, sporadic work resuming Sep 3.
There will be no construction activities on the dam next week. The park is open except for demolition site areas. Sporadic work will resume the week of September 3rd.
DO NOT GO BEYOND FENCING!
Fencing is being installed to protect against falling debris. Please do not go beyond the fencing.

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Mobilizing Equipment 08/16/2019
Mobilizing equipment 08/16/2019. The site is being turned over to the contractor. Demolition expected to begin Monday, 08/19/2019. Park closures as determined by the contractor.
Contract Awarded- Phase 1 of the Contract to Start August 2019
Milbocker & Sons was awarded the contract for the project. Anticipated to start in August 2019. 

All of the work will be in and around the powerhouse. Expect some park closures.
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