Argo Pond

The Ann Arbor News, Dec. 18, 2005, p. A1, reveals a proposal to remove Argo Dam, and its scenic pond, supposedly to create 40 to 50 acres of land for park purposes. Argo pond is already in use for rowing, fishing and other recreation. We don’t exactly have a surplus of lakes and ponds for water-based recreation. Apparently it is being claimed that the land area that will result from dam removal will be worth 4 to 5 million bucks. That is an assertion worth examination. How much of this land will be in the flood plain? What sort of vegetation will invade it once the water cover is removed? Will it be wetlands vegetation that will have to be preserved? Will we end up losing an attractive and useful recreational facility and getting, in return, just another mosquito-laden urban swamp?
There may be some merit to this proposal, but there are a LOT of unanswered questions. Maybe some experimenting would be useful. Why not remove Hoover Dam to provide room for the expansion of Las Vegas?