Dams' demise on rapid course

Feasibility study points to breaching dams that open gate for whitewater

posted Sunday, July 25, 2004

BY CHUCK WILLIAMS
Staff Writer

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is one step closer to giving its approval for the breaching of two Columbus dams to make way for free-flowing whitewater on a small portion of the Chattahoochee River.

The Corps' Mobile District office has recently completed a feasibility study that recommends partially removing two downtown dams -- the Eagle & Phenix Dam and City Mills Dam. This would create a 2.3-mile stretch of whitewater from Bibb City to the Dillingham Street Bridge.

"We're recommending they breach the Eagle & Phenix and City Mills dams," said Jim Buckalew, the Corps of Engineers project manager. "We feel like we have a good project."

The Corps' report has not been finalized. That is expected to happen in the next couple of weeks.

The Corps let members of the Fall Line Alliance, a local group that has been pushing the project, know of its preliminary findings about a week ago.

Columbus businessman John Turner, son of retired W.C. Bradley Co. chairman Bill Turner, is the leader of that alliance.

"We're making progress," Turner said late last week.

There are still a number of issues that must be resolved:

• Funding. The Corps, under a federal aquatic restoration program, would provide 65 percent of the funding up to $5 million. The remainder of the money would have to be raised locally. The project is expected to cost between $6 million and $7 million, Buckalew said. There is no guarantee when the federal money would be available.

Turner said the alliance is waiting for the report to be finalized before beginning a private fund-raising campaign.

Columbus City Manager Carmen Cavezza said even though the city is sponsoring the study, there are no plans to use city money for the project.

• Approval. The Mobile District's study must be approved by the Corps' South-Atlantic Division office in Atlanta. The approval, which seems likely, could come in September.

• Dam acquisition. The dams were both privately owned. The W.C. Bradley Co. purchased the Eagle & Phenix Dam in September from CHI Energy of Stamford, Conn. The purchase price was $1.25 million and ownership of the dam was transferred to Uptown Columbus Inc., a nonprofit downtown redevelopment organization.

The dam at City Mills Dam is under contract, but the deal has not been finalized. The dam is owned by City Mills Inc., whose president is local businessman Charlie Bowers. Mat Swift, president of W.C. Bradley Company's Real Estate Division, said that deal could close in the next few weeks.

The cost to acquire the dams is not included in the $6 million to $7 million Corps estimate and would have to be absorbed locally, Buckalew said.

Fish to benefit

The Fall Line Alliance and the Corps of Engineers are looking at the project with different aims.

The Corps is looking at it as a river restoration project that will benefit certain species of fish, including the shoal bass. That has been the focus of the $400,000 feasibility study.

The alliance is looking to recreational and economic development possibilities. The restored river would create kayak and whitewater rafting opportunities. The rapids would be used as a magnet to draw more commercial development -- stores and restaurants -- close to the river.

Though the Corps and the alliance are approaching the project with different aims, there is plenty of common ground.

"As it turns out, what is good and safe for boating tends to be closely aligned with what is good for the fish and organisms," Turner said.

Buckalew agreed.

"There may be some opportunities for the local sponsors to use features we would use anyway to enhance the whitewater and recreation use," Buckalew said.

One of those features is weirs, which would help control the drop in the elevation of the water. Another feature the Corps is proposing is fish ramps to help fish move upstream in the rapids.

There will be opportunity for public input as the project continues, Buckalew said.

Cavezza said the project appears to be on track with no formal opposition.

"The momentum is building in that direction," Cavezza said. "I am comfortable that there is no opposition at this time. There may be some concern and questions that need to be addressed. But there isn't any formal opposition."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact Erin Simpson at (706) 571-8586 or esimpson@ledger-enquirer.com