Healthy Pine River group details dam feasibility work as City of Alma becomes fiduciary for study
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Summary
City commissioners approved assigning the Alma Street Dam feasibility contract to the City of Alma and heard a detailed presentation from Healthy Pine River on a $298,000 grant, sediment studies and proposed outreach and K–12 curricula to support river restoration planning.
City of Alma commissioners voted to make the city the fiduciary and assignee for the Alma Street Dam feasibility study contract with Healthy Pine River and GEI Consultants, a move officials said will allow the city to handle billing and reporting for the project.
The action, introduced by the presiding official and supported by staff, passed by voice vote. Commissioners also approved a $2,500 annual contribution to the Healthy Pine River Committee to aid its testing and planning work.
Representatives of Healthy Pine River told the commission the group has more than 20 years of water testing and that recent monitoring shows improvements in some stretches of the Pine River. The speaker said a grant described in the meeting as approximately $298,000 was approved to support risk‑reduction planning; about $206,000 of that amount was identified in the meeting as coming “from Eagle.” Speaker 7 said GEI and local consultants will advance hydrology, sediment-characterization and flood‑plain modeling as part of the feasibility work.
Healthy Pine River described earlier bathymetry that measured about 430,000 cubic yards of sediment in the impoundment and said updated field work indicates sediment volumes have increased to more than 700,000 cubic yards in some locations. The group reported sediment characterization testing found no immediately alarming contaminants but said further testing and modeling are under way to evaluate options, costs and community impacts associated with removing the dam, partially modifying it, or leaving it in place.
The presenter emphasized community outreach is already underway, including planned curriculum and field-trip activities for fourth- and fifth-graders and consultations with the local school curriculum council. The group said it is engaging local farmers to identify sources of contamination in the watershed and to seek cooperative solutions.
Commissioners asked about next steps and outreach; Healthy Pine River said it will return with GEI recommendations, and the city-manager-level staff will manage contract execution and reporting responsibilities once the assignment is finalized.
The feasibility study is intended to clarify options and costs so the city and community can make informed decisions; no decision on dam removal or modification was made at the meeting.
