Board OKs Removing Paint Creek Dam

In a tension-filled meeting Tuesday night, the  voted to remove the .

Arguments about the health of the  surrounded most of the discussion at  with  and experts giving a nod of approval to the dam's removal. Those in favor of the plan noted it isn’t being taken care of now, while opponents said they fear removal of the dam might cause the mill race to dry up, thus removing a historic site.

In January 2010, the Clinton River Watershed Council was given the go-ahead by the Board of Trustees to apply for a $700,000 federal grant to study the dam’s impact and possibly remove the dam. After the Watershed Council was awarded the grant later in the year, the group started looking into the possibilities of removing the dam and decided it should be removed. Because it had a federal grant, it decided it would be in the best interest to the township to move ahead with the operation at no cost for the purpose of improving the riparian and aquatic habitat. 

Since then, the council has periodically updated the township on its progress in monitoring the dam. The decision to officially approve the access agreement for habitat restoration and dam removal was on the agenda for the township board meeting Sept. 13,

The Clinton River Watershed Council presented the board with a hefty report since the Sept. 13 meeting, detailing liability concerns raised by board members, funding options and reasons to remove the dam — noting it would restore the area with the idea of historical preservation in mind.

Anne Vaara, executive director of the Clinton River Watershed Council, brought a Michigan Department of Natural Resources official, a fish biologist and biology professors, among other marine experts, to argue the point that dam removal would indeed be beneficial.

“This is a very sound, good project that will undoubtedly benefit the ecology of Paint Creek,” said Scott Tiegs, assistant professor of biological sciences at Oakland University.

In spite of the bold statements that the experts made, many residents said they thought the project was unnecessary and the township should look into other options to maintain and renovate the mill race and not remove the dam. 

Many points about destroying a central historical attribute were also brought to the attention of the board. “It is going to remove the historic character of our property,” said Jan Olson, an Oakland Township resident who lives next to the mill race.

Tuesday night, after much discussion, the agreement was approved 4-2. Trustees Marc Edwards and Kathrine Thomas, Treasurer Sharon Creps and Township Supervisor Joan Fogler voted in favor, while Trustee Michael Bailey and Clerk Judy Workings voted against the agreement. Trustee Sharon McKay was absent.

“I don’t know that I agree this is a win-win, but I think it’s the best option,” Thomas said.