The potential influx of as much as $8 million in federal funding could help change the course of the Boardman River once again. The funding, allocated by the Environmental Protection Agency through the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), could provide a critical financial component in the ongoing Boardman River Dam Project.

“This doesn’t typically happen, even at the federal level, that they would step down with this type of resource,” says Traverse City Manager Marty Colburn. “So it’s truly a wow moment for us. It makes just a huge difference knowing that the resources are there from the federal government, and to be able to step up and fill the gaps with the local governments and agencies that are involved in this," he says.

The estimated $15.2 million project began in 2005, and focuses on removing three, inactive hydroelectric dams and renovating a fourth. The Brown Bridge Dam was successfully removed in 2013; the Boardman and Sabin dams are scheduled for removal, while the Union Street dam is slated for modification. Once completed, the project is expected to reconnect more than 160 miles of “blue ribbon” stream and restore hundreds of acres of watershed habitat. The ambitious undertaking, touted as the largest restoration project in state history, has recently been mired by financial shortfalls.

“I as a county resident and a city resident appreciate the fact that the federal government understands and appreciates the importance of this project,” says Grand Traverse County Board Chair Christine Maxbauer, noting that despite the efforts of individuals and organizations, the project was at a standstill due to a lack of funding.

Grand Traverse County and Traverse City commissioners and members of the Grand Traverse Band Tribal Council will meet tomorrow (Wednesday) at 6pm at the Governmental Center to discuss the future of the project. The Special Meeting session is also expected to include representatives from the Boardman River Dams & Restoration Implementation Team, the USACE, the Conservation Resource Alliance and the Department of Environmental Quality.

Unlike previous funding for the project, which has come primarily through the Congressionally created Great Lakes Fishery and Ecosystem Restoration Program, the new Boardman dam funding will not require a 35 percent matching fund commitment.

“The non-federal cost under that scenario would have been a little over $5 million,” says Carl Platze, USACE project manager. “It’s understandingly difficult for local entities to raise that amount of non-federal funding. What it really does is provide some financial relief for the owners of the dam."

The USACE expects the remainder of the project to be split into phases. The construction update of the Cass Road Bridge is planned for 2016, and the removal of the Boardman and Sabin Dams in 2017 and 2018. The final phase would include a modification of the Union Street Dam. Funding for the Sabin and Union Street dams are still expected to require the 35 percent non-federal funding match.

Despite the potential short-term funding reprieve, some local organizations aren’t letting the county and city off the hook for future funds. In a letter, Rotary Charities of Traverse City calls for “a solid commitment of local government funding for the entire river restoration project.”

Though Becky Ewing, Rotary Charities associate director, called the EPA-USACE funding a “watershed moment,” she cautions “unless the key stakeholders have made a commitment with funding, it’s going to be very difficult to leverage funders from outside our region.”

Ewing does not specificy how much the organization would like to see from local government, but does say, “we’ve already given $400,000, so it needs to be a significant commitment.” Ewing will represent Rotary Charities at tomorrow’s meeting.

Maxbauer, Colbun and others acknowledge the need to secure future matching funds.

“There’s still even more fundraising that needs to happen and of course commitments from all the political agencies involved,” says Colburn. “But those are the details that we need to continue to work on.”