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rather than a nearby embankment. It was too dark to see the turbulent waters at the base of the dam. When they launched their canoe, the swift waters from the turbines pulled them back into the powerhouse and crashed against a wall. They were trapped on a ledge in neck-high frigid water and unable to escape due to the swiftness of the water pushing them back against the wall. One of the men tried to swim out and disappeared. Four hours later, plant operator Walter Yost discovered them trapped below. Yost tossed a rope down but was only able to save one person, as the other two fell and disappeared. Despite a massive search effort, it took a month to recover the three victims, who were found far from the dam within the river. As a result of the accident, the staircase along the side of the dam was closed, and better portage sites were constructed along the embankment.
374:. It was one of a series of dams constructed along the Huron River to provide hydroelectricity to residents and its own manufacturing facilities. The Detroit Edison Company decommissioned the site in 1963 and sold it to the city of Ann Arbor. The electricity generated by the power station was too low and not cost effective, and the power station was shut down. In 1986, the city determined that it would be feasible to restore hydroelectric power to Barton Dam, and in 1988, the city entered into a 50-year contract to sell the energy back to the Detroit Edison Company to supply electricity for Ann Arbor's power grid.
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of Ann Arbor. A company-owned community grew along the riverfront near the Barton Dam. Riverfront property along the Barton Pond became very valuable estate, and many wealthy executives of the company built elaborate homes there. When the property became too expensive to maintain and had no economic use, the company began selling parcels of land by the 1940s. The community would later become the village of
54:
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Arbor approved a $ 543,000 contract to repair and upgrade the aging turbine and power station, which requires such maintenance at least every 10 years but had not been completed since 2005. An additional $ 190,000 was also needed for other repairs to the facility. Despite the costs, the facility returned to profitability within three years.
439:
the dam continued for three more years. At 25 feet (7.6 m) tall, it was the tallest dam on the river at the time. Because of the dam's size and major geological changes to the surrounding area, the
Detroit Edison Company was required to purchase large tracts of farming land not necessarily used for the dam or powerhouse.
496:
along the river, which also has a pedestrian walkway going across the dam. There are two public access points to the river but are only usable for carrying kayaks and small canoes. One launch is located directly at the base of the dam, while the other is much further upstream near the beginning of Barton Pond.
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is 16 miles (25.7 km) upstream, this stretch of the river leading to the Barton Dam is one of the longest unobstructed paths along the Huron River. To continue along the river, boaters must portage over the Barton Dam across the embankment. In 2015, a steel railing was installed over the steep
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crosses through Barton Nature Area along the dam but does not cross the dam itself. There are several small bridges downstream across the river for hiking and biking through the area. The park is also part of the Huron River Water Trail and contains 3.4 miles (5.5 km) of natural hiking trails
451:
after the land was sold by the company, and some of these early homes still exist within the affluent village, which remains one of the wealthiest communities in the state. In 1959, the
Detroit Edison Company also sold large plots of riverfront land back to the city of Ann Arbor, greatly increasing
446:
By 1915, the dam was fully completed, and the reservoir was filled to capacity. By 1925, the hydroelectric power station was running at full capacity. Many workers for the
Detroit Edison Company built their homes along the banks of the Huron River in what was former farmland just north of the city
381:
remain active power stations serving Ann Arbor. Combined, the two dams produce 6,000 megawatt hours of power annually, which creates enough electricity for around 1,500 homes at peak capacity. Of the two facilities, the Barton Dam has a much larger generating capacity of about 4,200 megawatt hours
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began purchasing riverfront land and water rights in order to dam the river in many locations. In 1912, construction began on the Barton Dam at a sharp bend in the river. The dam was able to open for the first time in
December of that year, and the powerhouse was also activated. Construction on
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In 2011, a survey by the city found that the dam was in need of urgent concrete repairs at a cost of $ 1.15 million. In 2013, a new earthen berm (called a "drainage blanket") was needed at the base of the dam to facilitate drainage. This project cost almost $ 124,000. In 2019, the city of Ann
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Tragedy befell the Barton Dam during its early construction phase. Four college students canoed down the Huron River just upstream from the Barton Dam on March 19, 1913. When it came time to portage over the dam to the downstream area, they decided to use the staircase alongside the powerhouse
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This portion of the Huron River was well known for its sharp decrease in elevation. Prior to damming, the river dropped 42 feet (13 m) within the city of Ann Arbor. While it had potential for early sawmills and later hydroelectricity, it made navigating the river impossible. In 1905, the
385:
While the Barton Dam power station remains profitable, the
Superior Dam power station "does not generate enough electricity to cover its own annual maintenance and operating costs" according to the Huron River Watershed Council in 2019 and risks being decommissioned. There are currently four
326:
When the dam was completed, the resulting flooding created a reservoir of 302 acres (122 ha), and it is most commonly referred to as Barton Pond or sometimes as the Barton
Impoundment. The reservoir sits at an elevation of approximately 797 feet (243 m) above
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that control the water level of Barton Pond and the downstream area. The dam has a total length of 175 feet (53.3 m), and the crest length including the earthen levee is 1,560 feet (475.5 m) long. The dam is 30 feet (9.1 m) tall and has a
307:. The dam is accessible just west of the highway via exit 3 (North Main Street) or exit 4 (Barton Drive) on the northside of the river. The Barton Dam is approximately 52.7 miles (84.8 km) from the Huron River mouth at
583:(PFOS). When this bacteria is present, prolonged contact with the water is not advised, although occasional contact with PFOS is not considered a health concern. When the advisory is in place, fishermen are advised to
587:
only, and warning signs are posted at river access points. The advisory is often issued for long stretches of the Huron River that include and specifically mention the Barton Dam portion of the river.
523:. However, low fish populations halted these stocking efforts in the future. Fishing remains a popular activity within the pond and downstream area. Common fish caught today within this area include
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488:. The Ann Arbor portion is organized into the Barton Nature Area, which encompasses 98 acres (39.7 ha) along the Huron River on land previously owned by the Detroit Edison Company.
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The area surrounding the southside of the dam and Huron River is owned by the city of Ann Arbor, while the northside is undeveloped and owned by the village of
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have also been detected in Barton Pond. The Barton Pond contains several listings on the state's Master Angler
Entries, with the largest being a
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and has an average depth of 21.1 feet (6.4 m). The reservoir provides up to 80 percent of the drinking water for the city of Ann Arbor.
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279:. It began operating in 1912 and currently provides hydroelectricity to city of Ann Arbor, which owns and maintains the dam and
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The Barton Dam
Hydroelectric Station was built alongside the dam beginning in 1912. The power station was built by the
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of energy and earns the city more than $ 300,000 in revenue a year, not including general maintenance costs.
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Canoeing and kayaking are one of the more popular activities along this stretch of the Huron River. As the
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the city limits into a more rural area. In 1963, the Barton Dam and its powerhouse were sold to the city.
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While there were numerous hydroelectric dams along the Huron River in the past, only the Barton Dam and
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354:. Only the Argo Dam and Barton Dam are actually within the city of Ann Arbor. Geddes Dam is within
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at 32.0 inches (81.3 cm) long and a channel catfish listed at 31.0 inches (78.7 cm) long.
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The dam is one of four dams owned by the city of Ann Arbor. The other dams are the Argo Dam,
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969:"Ann Arbor's Barton Dam to see major concrete repairs as part of $ 1.15 million project"
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The Huron River is occasionally issued a "Do Not Eat" fish advisory by the
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Early construction of the Barton Dam upstream (top) and downstream (bottom)
1210:"Michigan extends 'Do Not Eat' Fish Advisory for Huron River to Lake Erie"
941:"If you've never heard of Michigan's richest community, that's just fine"
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embankment to assist in the process, and new signage was also installed.
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U.S. Geological Survey
Geographic Names Information System: Barton Pond
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remaining hydroelectric dams along the Huron River: Barton, Superior,
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The dam is constructed out of concrete and consists of 10 automated
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2.1 miles (3.4 km) downstream within the city of Ann Arbor.
812:"Peninsular Paper Dam: Hydropower Generating Capacity Estimate"
176:
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The Barton Dam is located in the northwestern city limits of
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Bicycling is also a viable activity along the river. The
1184:"Master Angler Entries (Washtenaw County: Barton Pond)"
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capacity of 15,100 cubic feet per second (427.6 m/s).
781:"Ann Arbor approves $ 543K for Barton Dam overhaul"
662:. Lansing: Michigan Department of Natural Resources
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810:Huron River Watershed Council (February 1, 2019).
511:for stocking several varieties of fish, including
1233:"State: Don't eat Huron River fish in 5 counties"
1182:Michigan Department of Natural Resources (2019).
573:Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
1313:Buildings and structures in Ann Arbor, Michigan
920:"Barton Hills Village: Historical Perspectives"
621:Huron River Watershed Council (November 2015).
1049:"Huron River Greenway: Border-to-Border Trail"
685:"Barton Dam: Picturesque, historic, and green"
1138:Huron River Watershed Council (May 5, 2015).
720:"Ann Arbor officials get Argo Dam issue soon"
8:
1260:"Huron River 'do not eat' advisory extended"
841:"A History of the Huron River in Ann Arbor"
1186:. Michigan Department of Natural Resources
575:when the waters accumulate high levels of
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869:"A Tale of Drama and Death at Barton Dam"
997:"Drainage Blanket Funded for Barton Dam"
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653:Michigan Department of Natural Resources
509:Michigan Department of Natural Resources
1333:Energy infrastructure completed in 1912
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295:about 0.5 miles (0.80 km) west of
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315:16.3 miles (26.2 km) upstream in
358:, and Superior Dam is in neighboring
61:Location within the state of Michigan
7:
1140:"Barton Dam portage just got easier"
890:"The Buried History of Barton Hills"
1286:"Water Treatment: PFAS Information"
303:) and just south of the village of
1212:(Press release). City of Ann Arbor
1096:"Huron River Water Trail: Web Map"
53:
14:
1231:Hicks, Mark (September 1, 2018).
476:The levee overlooking Barton Pond
1116:Huron River Water Trail (2021).
1094:Huron River Water Trail (2021).
507:The Barton Pond was used by the
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1338:1912 establishments in Michigan
817:. Huron River Watershed Council
628:. Huron River Watershed Council
267:. It is located in the city of
1:
1262:. Monroe News. March 13, 2019
1162:"Michigan Lakes: Barton Pond"
311:. The nearest dams are the
148:; 112 years ago
1071:"Barton Nature Area: Trail"
581:perfluorooctanesulfonatecan
35:Barton Dam in December 2023
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1022:City of Ann Arbor (2021).
865:Ann Arbor District Library
18:Dam in Ann Arbor, Michigan
246:302 acres (122.2 ha)
217:1,560 feet (475.5 m)
40:
28:
1118:"Washtenaw County Trips"
657:"Huron River Assessment"
1160:Lake-Link Inc. (2021).
1001:The Ann Arbor Chronicle
916:Village of Barton Hills
225:15,100 ft/s (427.6 m/s)
1328:Dams completed in 1912
1323:Huron River (Michigan)
1045:Border-to-Border Trail
493:Border-to-Border Trail
477:
469:
436:Detroit Edison Company
372:Detroit Edison Company
222:Spillway capacity
209:175 feet (53.3 m)
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468:Barton Pond reservoir
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275:in the U.S. state of
177:Type of dam
109:42.30833°N 83.75444°W
1024:"Barton Nature Area"
201:30 feet (9.1 m)
1208:(August 31, 2018).
1069:City of Ann Arbor.
531:, channel catfish,
243:Total capacity
114:42.30833; -83.75444
105: /
1003:. November 8, 2013
974:The Ann Arbor News
894:Ann Arbor Observer
791:. January 30, 2019
689:Ann Arbor Observer
486:Ann Arbor Township
478:
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356:Ann Arbor Township
214:Width (crest)
1282:City of Ann Arbor
1206:City of Ann Arbor
757:"Dams and Hydros"
753:City of Ann Arbor
585:catch and release
521:tiger muskellunge
360:Superior Township
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171:Dam and spillways
165:City of Ann Arbor
143:Opening date
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1318:Dams in Michigan
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655:(April 1995).
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1291:September 4,
1289:. Retrieved
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1029:September 2,
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630:. Retrieved
623:"Barton Dam"
600:
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555:. Invasive
553:yellow perch
506:
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490:
482:Barton Hills
479:
454:
449:Barton Hills
445:
441:
432:
384:
379:Superior Dam
376:
369:
352:Superior Dam
345:
333:
325:
305:Barton Hills
290:
253:
251:
15:
896:. June 2005
632:January 20,
561:common carp
519:, and even
287:Description
265:Huron River
261:barrage dam
238:Barton Pond
192:Huron River
138:Operational
112: /
88:Coordinates
74:Huron River
1307:Categories
1190:August 18,
1101:August 21,
1079:August 21,
1054:August 30,
953:August 29,
900:August 29,
795:August 20,
695:August 29,
592:References
460:Activities
348:Geddes Dam
301:Bus. US 23
254:Barton Dam
100:83°45′16″W
97:42°18′30″N
24:Barton Dam
821:April 21,
762:April 20,
734:April 20,
666:April 20,
537:rock bass
501:Flook Dam
388:Ford Lake
341:discharge
336:spillways
329:sea level
313:Flook Dam
309:Lake Erie
293:Ann Arbor
269:Ann Arbor
230:Reservoir
78:Ann Arbor
1284:(2020).
918:(2019).
867:(2021).
755:(2020).
529:bluegill
321:Argo Dam
319:and the
277:Michigan
188:Impounds
161:Owner(s)
82:Michigan
70:Location
549:walleye
545:sunfish
398:History
235:Creates
182:Barrage
151: (
125:Purpose
551:, and
390:, and
350:, and
206:Length
198:Height
135:Status
1074:(PDF)
844:(PDF)
815:(PDF)
785:MLive
724:MLive
660:(PDF)
626:(PDF)
256:is a
129:Power
1293:2021
1268:2021
1246:2021
1218:2021
1192:2021
1169:2021
1147:2021
1125:2021
1103:2021
1081:2021
1056:2021
1031:2021
1009:2021
983:2021
955:2021
927:2021
902:2021
876:2021
851:2021
823:2020
797:2020
764:2020
736:2020
697:2021
668:2020
634:2021
579:and
484:and
297:M-14
252:The
153:1912
146:1912
271:in
1309::
1235:.
999:.
971:.
943:.
892:.
831:^
787:.
783:.
772:^
744:^
726:.
722:.
705:^
687:.
676:^
642:^
611:^
547:,
543:,
539:,
535:,
527:,
515:,
394:.
283:.
80:,
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299:(
155:)
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