Posted: March 11, 2009

Milwaukee County Supervisor Theo Lipscomb on March 9 urged Glendale's city leaders to help build the consensus necessary to repair and maintain the Estabrook Dam.

Lipscomb, who favors county borrowing to fund an estimated $1.4 million in repairs to the dam, criticized the report of the Estabrook Dam Rehabilitation Workgroup presented to the county Parks, Energy and Environment Committee.

"The report makes it appear that dam removal is the only choice," Lipscomb said.

Unaccounted costs

The dam was built in 1933 to replace a rock outcropping removed from the Milwaukee River. The removal of the outcropping caused flooding, according to the report.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources ordered the dam opened in October. If repairs are not made to the dam, it must remain open under DNR order.

In past years, the dam gates were closed once the ice was out of the river. The closed gates help create a 100-acre impoundment that is in effect an inland lake used for various recreational activities.

Both the county's Lincoln Park and numerous private Glendale residences abut the impoundment area. The county owns the dam, which is in Milwaukee.

Lipscomb said the report fails to take into account the costs to private property owners and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District should the dam be removed.

Milwaukee River Preservation Association President Glen Goebel said the removal of the dam would create a mud flat half a mile long and a quarter mile wide in the impoundment area. The MMSD sewer outfalls would be exposed as would sediment that has collected in the riverbed.

Private docks and retaining walls would be left high and dry, and Goebel said he believes property values will be lowered.

Natural state, economy

Other organizations, including the Milwaukee Riverkeeper, Sierra Club Great Waters Group and various groups of fishermen support the dam's removal, saying it would restore the river to its natural state.

One Glendale resident, Phyllis Santacroce, who owns riverfront property north of Silver Spring Drive and the impoundment area, said she was shocked the council would support the county spending money on the dam in tough economic times.

"I believe most people in Glendale don't care if the dam is there or not," she said.

The council last fall sent letters to county representatives encouraging them to repair the dam, and Lipscomb urged them to again contact County Board members.

Lipscomb said he hopes that some federal stimulus money can be channeled to the repair of the dam.

 

Mary Buckley can be reached at (262) 446-6615.

NEXT STEP

WHAT: Milwaukee County Parks, Energy and Environment Committee public hearing on Estabrook Dam

WHEN: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 24

WHERE: Harbor Lights Room, Downtown Transit Center, 909 E. Michigan St., Milwaukee

OTHER: The public is invited to comment, but will be limited to two minutes; written comments are welcome either at the meeting or by e-mail to julie.esch@milwcnty.com.