Posted on March 21, 2022
HARVEY — The Chocolay Board of Trustees on Monday passed a resolution of support for the state to purchase a floating dredger to help with potential flooding.
The resolution states that the township has had continuing problems with the siltation out of the Chocolay River and the Lake Superior confluence. The township has worked with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources; the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; and the Army Corps of Engineers to remove winter ice and maintain the river corridor.
The township also has worked with the Federal Emergency Management Authority’s remapping of the Chocolay River floodplain.
Additionally, the resolution states that Chocolay Township understands that the long-term solution is to continually dredge the confluence to reduce flooding potential each spring.
The dredger in question would be a Watermaster floating dredging machine.
“It looks like this is definitely above and beyond any and other amphibious multi-use dredging and driver equipment,” Trustee Kendra Symbal said.
The township has been working with state Rep. Sara Cambensy, D-Marquette, over the past two years on a long-term solution to reduce flooding on the Chocolay River.
Chocolay Township Supervisor Richard Bohjanen said Cambensy is advocating for a dredger for the Upper Peninsula because of the issue with the mouth of the Chocolay River. The resolution asks for the machine to be stationed in the U.P. to enable all communities to benefit from it.
According to Cambensy’s office, state Rep. Sue Allor, a Republican who represents the 106th District, brought the idea of purchasing this piece of equipment to legislators, with everyone noting they have several communities asking for help in solving similar water issues in their districts.
Legislators are looking to invest in a state-of-the-art piece of dredging equipment to help communities deal with increased silting in river outlets, marinas and lakeshores, the office said. The cost of the machine is $1 million, with a hearing of the House Natural Resources Appropriation Committee set for this spring.
“Not only can this amphibious machine dredge, it can also plant native vegetation in wetlands, rake and suction harmful sediment on the bottom of waterways, and assist in hauling, stabilizing and placing rocks and other structural waterfront materials,” Cambensy said in an email. “The versatility of this machine is amazing, and the advantage of the state purchasing this equipment is to more quickly assist communities who have urgent needs on their lakes and streams rather than waiting for a private contractor or the Army Corps of Engineers to prioritize it.”
The proposal, she said, includes using one of the state’s three maintenance teams — under the guidance of the DNR — that travel the state to work on various projects. Cambensy noted that a group of DNR employees from downstate recently went to New York to talk with its state department about the benefits of purchasing a Watermaster machine and to see projects on which it’s currently working.
Watermaster is based in Finland.
Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.
