By Staff
Tuesday, Oct. 24, and Wednesday, Oct. 25, MEANDRS (Meeting the Ecological and Agricultural Needs of the Dowagiac River System) members and Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) machinery assembled at Dodd Park in Pokagon Township to attempt the diversion of the Dowagiac River into the old meander channel.
In preparation for "D-Day," they had dredged the meander channel, constructed four riffle structures and a J-Hook, opened the inlet and outlet for the meander channel, put in a bridge abutment, stabilized the banks near the inlet and outlet with riprap, coconut fabric and staged trees, rocks, soil from the containment area and huge cement blocks near the site for the diversionary structure that would check the flow of the river so that the flowing water would change course and flow through the meander channel.
The meander was separated from the river in the final dredging project, 1916-1928.
This event culminated 12 years of effort by many individuals and organizations, such as the DNR Fisheries Division, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Water Division, Cass County Conservation Department, Cass County Parks Department, tri-county Drain Board, county Road Commission, St. Joe Valley Fly Fishers, Kalamazoo Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Cass County Board of Commissioners, Dowagiac Conservation Club and the Dowagiac Mill Pond Association.
The DNR excavator placed 60 3,200-pound concrete blocks in the river channel along with about 300 tons of rock as the foundation for the structure.
The trunks of large trees excavated when the dredge spoils containment area was constructed were used in front of the rocks and blocks along with root wads.
Soil was then used to construct the dam.
At one time the flow of water was compressed into an area about 15 feet wide.
The fast-moving river, that was near flood stage, then became a raging, white-water torrent.
Some of the water from the river is now flowing through the meander and rejoining the river some 1,700 feet downstream.
After several attempts, the decision was made to temporarily terminate the diversion of the river and the construction of the diversionary structure. The project is not being abandoned.
Some of the materials placed in the river were removed for the time being and stockpiled.
The soil that could be washed into the river during a high water event was pulled back from the river's edge.
The river bank was gently sloped and covered with coconut fabric to prevent erosion.
However, many of the concrete blocks and rocks for the foundation of the structure remain in the river and those wading, canoeing or kayaking on the river should be aware of and careful in the area of the small waterfall that was created just below the meander inlet.
Since Aug. 1 this area has received about 16 inches of precipitation.
The river is more than a foot higher than it usually is at this time of year.
Unfortunately, last June when the river was very low, the DNR equipment was needed elsewhere in the state and the DEQ required MEANDRS to get a second set of architectural drawings stamped by the professional engineer.
The meander restoration is a pilot project, and a great deal has been learned by this initial endeavor. MEANDRS and the DNR remain committed to succeeding. However, before that is done they will need to get a new DEQ permit. The current one expires Dec. 31. They will need to get more large rocks of more than three feet and one feet in diameter and possibly more tree trunks and oversized, concrete blocks.
These have to be staged on the inner part of the park that is now an island, so a bridge must be constructed across the meander outlet to allow placement of the needed materials near the construction site.
Further soil, smaller rocks and coconut fiber for bank stabilization will be needed.
Assembling these materials will take both time and money. The DNR equipment crew of the DNR will be available for the project next year.
They need more time, more money and less water in the river to succeed.