Argo Pond Dam

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?
It has been suggested that it would cost somewhere between one and two million dollars to remove the dam. Ann Arbor Observer, March 2006, p.34. Based upon our experience with the new high school and other public projects around here it seems reasonable to guess that when the final plans and specs are ready, this estimate will have risen to around 4 million plus. Then the officials in charge will be horrified that the low bid is just under six million, but they will proceed anyway. Then when the extra work, unplanned, becomes necessary, the final tally will be around 8 million. That is how things work around here.
There may be some merit to this proposal, but there are a LOT of unanswered questions.