Posted August 17, 200717 yr Benefits to water quality, boater safety Corps advises removing Olentangy dam Friday, August 17, 2007 3:26 AM By Mark Ferenchik THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wants to remove the low-head dam near 5th Avenue on the Olentangy River, which would give boaters an unimpeded route from the University District to Downtown... [email protected] FULL ARTICLE: http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/08/17/LOWDAMS.ART_ART_08-17-07_B1_EP7KVML.html
September 15, 200717 yr Damaging dam's days in Delaware numbered Removal of Central Avenue dam will make Olentangy safer, cleaner, officials say By MATT GERISH Published: Thursday, September 13, 2007 1:18 PM EDT The Olentangy River could get a little cleaner on its way through Delaware and the city could become a little "cooler" following this week's Delaware City Council meeting... FULL ARTICLE: http://www.snponline.com/articles/2007/09/14/multiple_papers/news/alldeenvir_20070913_1212pm_2.txt
October 29, 200717 yr Potential fines Olentangy dam puts Columbus in a pickle City lacks money needed for removal Monday, October 29, 2007 3:46 AM By Mark Ferenchik THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH It's a dam conundrum for Columbus: [email protected] ARTICLE: http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2007/10/29/OLENDAM.ART_ART_10-29-07_B1_1H8AFCP.html?sid=101
November 5, 200717 yr An update on the possible removal of the Olentangy River lowhead dam in Columbus. Included with the article is very interesting "potential" before and after aerial view of the effect removing the dam would have on the area next to the Ohio State University and Ohio Stadium. Dam removal set at $1.82 million Columbus' share is $640,000, but cleanup costs could be high Saturday, November 3, 2007 By Mark Ferenchik, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The federal government plans to pay most of the nearly $2 million demolition cost if Columbus tears down a low-head dam near 5th Avenue on the Olentangy River. But the city remains concerned about additional cleanup costs that might be required. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is willing to pay 65 percent of the dam removal, which would amount to about $1.18 million of the projected $1.82 million price tag, according to a Corps feasibility study in August. WWW.DISPATCH.COM
November 6, 200717 yr OSU's crew team won't be pleased about the Olentangy narrowing near the Drake Union.
November 6, 200717 yr But wouldn't the depth and width still be sufficient for them to use? And if not, could they just not use the Scioto? (A bit further, though.)
December 8, 200717 yr Dam demolition will leave river smaller, cleaner Olentangy work will cost city $640,000 Saturday, December 8, 2007 - 3:05 AM By Mark Ferenchik, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The 5th Avenue dam on the Olentangy River is coming down. The question is when. After months of hand-wringing and prodding from Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman, city utilities officials have decided to remove the dam just south of the Ohio State University campus. That will help clean the water on that section of the river and open a larger stretch for canoeists and kayakers, they said. The U.S Army Corps of Engineers is willing to pay $1.18 million of the projected $1.82 million demolition cost. The city would pay the remaining $640,000, which is what the city owes in fines for sewer overflows into rivers. The city would have to pay those fines unless it decides to use that money for the demolition. Heather Dean of the Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed said the city's decision means a cleaner river. With the dam removed, the water will flow naturally, and sediments, sewage and other pollutants won't remain trapped behind the dam and foul the water as they do now. The dam was built in 1935 to supply cooling water to an OSU power plant. Full article: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2007/12/08/FIFTHDAM.ART_ART_12-08-07_B4_7P8NDH7.html?sid=101
February 2, 200817 yr City Urges Feds To Restore Funding For 5th Avenue Dam Removal $1.2 million Allocated for Columbus River Restoration Removed From Legislation Friday, February 01, 2008 http://columbusretrometro.typepad.com/columbus_retrometro/2008/02/city-urges-feds.html#more (Columbus) Mayor Michael B. Coleman and the City of Columbus are calling on the federal government to restore $1.2 million in funding to remove the 5th Avenue Lowhead Dam and improve the quality of the Olentangy River. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers committed the funding for the 5th Avenue Dam Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration project, but funding was cut prior to President Bush signing the bill. “For years we worked closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, The Ohio State University, environmental advocates and residents to make sure we had a realistic plan to remove this dam and create a better environment in this part of the Olentangy River,” said Mayor Coleman. “This was a partnership with a clear goal and we are protesting the Federal Government backing out on their commitment to fund a fair share.” Whether the White House or Congress dropped funding for the project is presently unclear, but Columbus Department of Public Utilities Director Tatyana Arsh sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers this week strongly supporting funding restoration for the important project. “We have invested countless hours with our partners in this effort, and stand ready to add our share of project funding, but we must have federal support. The $1.2 million federal share is essential for completion of the 5th Avenue dam restoration project,” said Director Arsh. Under the dam removal proposal, the Department of Public Utilities would provide $640,000. After reviewing the U.S. Army Corps draft report in December 2007, the Department decided to proceed with the project as long as it is adequately funded by local partners. The study found dam removal would restore the river’s natural flow and habitat conditions. The Corps’ concluded water quality would improve between the dam and Dodridge Street to the north. “The Federal Government’s decision to renege on funding for removal of the 5th Avenue Dam is yet another broken promise where protecting and restoring our environment is at stake,” said City Councilmember Andrew J. Ginther, Chair of the Public Utilities Committee. “The Federal Government has abandoned cities when it comes to investing in water and sewer infrastructure improvements, placing that burden on the backs of those who have been forced to pay higher utility rates. Now, they are abandoning their commitment to help improve the quality of our rivers and streams. It is disappointing, and wholly unacceptable.” Public Utilities staff was preparing to take the initial steps toward the design phase of the project and developing the project timeline when the federal funding was cut.
February 11, 200817 yr Olentangy clean-up effort idled with absence of cash from feds Friday, February 8, 2008 Business First of Columbus By Jeff Bell, Business First Columbus officials are crying foul over what they fear could be the loss of $1.2 million from the federal government that they were counting on to pay for a water clean-up project on the Olentangy River... http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2008/02/11/story2.html
June 17, 200816 yr Dam removal high priority, Corps says Monday, June 16, 2008 - 3:16 AM By Mark Ferenchik THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH It's supposed to cost $1.82 million to remove the 5th Avenue low-head dam on the Olentangy River. The city didn't get the federal money it said it needed to begin taking out the dam this year... For more information on low-head-dam removals, check this state government Web site: http://ohiodnr.com/water/Home/dsafety/lowhead_dams/default/tabid/3357/Default.aspx Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/06/16/DAMDEMOLISH.ART_ART_06-16-08_B1_DGAG3NG.html?sid=101
June 19, 200816 yr I'm sorry... but people shouldn't be going in the Olentangy river... especially from campus on south. The river is where all the sewage overflow currently goes, and you can typically smell it. What was this woman thinking letting her child get in that water? Take the kid to Wyandot Lake or one of the reservoirs...
April 20, 201015 yr Catching up on a 2008 story about this topic... OSU worries removing dam will harm campus Monday, December 15, 2008 - 3:10 AM By Mark Ferenchik THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Ohio State University wants to make sure that removing the 5th Avenue dam doesn't harm the millions of dollars the school has invested in its stadium and other buildings and roads, or jeopardize its plan to expand its medical complex. Removing the dam will lower the level of the Olentangy River, speed up its flow and expose 2 miles of riverbank. So Columbus plans to hire an engineering company for as much as $540,000 to assess the impact, while figuring out where it will get the money to demolish the dam. The city hasn't asked for financial help, said Bill Shkurti, OSU's senior vice president for business and finance. However, he said, Ohio State wants to see what the study shows and then discuss whether it makes sense for the school to help pay for the removal, which he said OSU supports in concept. Shkurti has asked the city to address several concerns, including: • The impact on the structural integrity of Ohio Stadium, Drake Union, Lane Avenue, Woody Hayes Drive and the ramp bridges to Rt. 315. "We have investments of hundreds of millions of dollars along the river," Shkurti said. • Changes in the flood plain. • Any impact on the OSU Medical Center's planned expansion west of Cannon Drive. • Finding a new location for OSU's crew club and novice women's rowing team, which wouldn't be able to use a narrower and shallower river. • Identifying ways to improve the river's aesthetics after the water level drops. Full article: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/12/15/FIFTHDAM.ART_ART_12-15-08_B1_BNC84CV.html
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