Letters 3/31/08

March 30, 2008

Bring back dam power
I live on Boardman View Terrace within a reserve dedicated in our bicentennial year 1976, protected by public trust, and dedicated to be preserved forever within the Grand Traverse Natural Educational Reserve.
There are two hydroelectric dams within this reserve. The historical dam impoundments on the Boardman River have created high-quality wetland areas unique in the amount and species of fish and wildlife they sustain. Horribly, the entire ecosystem in a five-mile stretch of the river is in danger of being irreversibly damaged.
My constitutional rights are also being challenged by Grand Traverse County. They are attempting the largest land grab in Grand Traverse County history with their claim to the bottomlands exposed by drawing down the dams. There is a clear unclouded chain of title through plat maps titles, deeds and agreements to whom the exposed bottomlands are entitled.
Foreseeing the lack of supply and the demand projections for electricity, it doesn’t take long to realize the need for relicensing these historic dam facilities to generate electricity in the Boardman River Valley.
At a time when nearly every electric power company in Michigan needs a percentage of renewable power in its portfolio, and most are scrambling to meet the requirements, it defies all logic that Grand Traverse County has formed a committee to embark on what it calls the largest dam removal project in the country.
Many believe this issue should be explored and offered to the public as the largest historical dam restoration project in the country, with efficient hydro-electric generation across the state.

Bruce Carpenter • TC

Corrections
Hats off to the Crooked Lake Grill for winning the “Best Breakfast“ category in Emmet County, an honor that was inadvertantly omitted in our Best of Northern Michigan issue.
Also, apologies for the misspellings on the names of Jon Kitna and Jessie Jones.