Letter: “For the Health of the River”

The White River Watershed Partnership weighs in on the White Cloud dam

To The Editor:

The White River Watershed Partnership is a group of local volunteers who, for the past 30 years, have dedicated themselves to promoting the health of the White River.  In that time we have installed sensors to measure the water’s temperature, done numerous studies of the aquatic insect populations, worked to remove barriers to free fish passage, helped stop corporate extraction of the aquifers waters, and sponsored community events to promote awareness of the issues revolving around the White River.
 
The current dam controversy now happening in White Cloud is the most important event to happen to the main branch of the White River in many years.  As such, we feel compelled to weigh in on the matter, with an eye firmly fixed on what the data has been telling us.
 
For the health of the river, the dam must be removed.  
 
It is a well documented fact that White Cloud Lake has been heating the river water by impounding the water in a shallow, slow moving lake that allows the sunshine to heat the water’s temperature to such an extent that it is killing the downstream fish.  
 
Water going into the lake is often 10 degrees cooler than the water going out.  Temperatures as high as 83 degrees have been recorded in the outflow.  The warmer water is, the less oxygen it contains. At these extreme temperatures, low oxygen water causes the fish to suffocate and die.  This is not our opinion; it is undeniable fact.
 
The upper section of the river, above the dam, is cool year round, and supports a healthy population of fish that don’t need restocking. It is naturally self-sustaining.  The river below the dam suffers from serious fish dieback due to the high water temperatures, and has to be restocked annually.
 
Biological studies have shown that the river below the dam is capable of being the same world class fishery that the more famous Pere Marquette river is, and would be should the dam be removed.
 
Although the recent draw down resulted in a lot of turbidity in the water, due in part to an overly aggressive draw down rate, this is a relatively short term event.  Once the river channel has established itself fully, and the lake bed muck washed away, the river will return to its pristine condition.
 
Finally, for these reasons, as well as for the safety of the downstream people and their residences, for the avoidance of crippling debt imposed by a dam rebuild and its subsequent, never ending maintenance and insurance costs, for unobstructed fish access to the upper river, and to once again allow nutrients to move freely through the river channel, the White Cloud dam must be removed.
 
The Board of the White River Watershed Partnership

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