The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has awarded an almost $3.8 million contract to Job Site Services, Inc. of Bay City, Michigan for removal of the Sabin Dam.

The work will cover three major projects, including: the breaching and removal of the Sabin Dam, including its earthen embankment and dewatering of Sabin Pond; demolition and removal of the Sabin Dam powerhouse, intake works, and existing spillway/gate; and restoration of the Boardman River from 3,500 feet upstream to 500 feet downstream of Sabin Dam. The contractor will begin work this summer, with a majority of the work expected to be complete by the end of 2018.

Removal of Sabin Dam will "assist in restoring fish passage and providing aquatic connectivity to Grand Traverse Bay...while also restoring wetlands and establishing native plant communities," according to USACE. "The project will allow movement of wood and sediment through the river system, eliminate thermal disruption, and restore the natural balance between coldwater and coolwater species."

The project is being executed through a Project Partnership Agreement between the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and the USACE under the Great Lakes Fishery and Ecosystem Restoration authority, with federal funding provided through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Photo credit: Great Lakes Images/John Russell