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FERC accepts revised Barton Dam fencing plan; city to restrict some access while preserving key embankment route
Summary
Federal regulators accepted the city’s alternate fencing route for the Barton Dam security project on March 9, 2026, preserving access to the right embankment (boat dock, portage and a potential border-to-border trail connection) while restricting crossing of the dam and access to the powerhouse; bids are due this week and staff expect a July notice-to-proceed.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission reviewers have accepted the City of Ann Arbor’s alternate fencing route for a security upgrade at Barton Dam, city staff said at the Parks Advisory Commission meeting March 17.
Glenn Wozorek, who presented the update, said FERC audited the site on May 20, 2025 and issued audit results in early July 2025. The city submitted revised fencing plans in December 2025 and on March 9, 2026 received final comments accepting the proposed route.
"They have accepted our proposed fencing route," Wozorek said, adding that the alternate alignment retains access along the right embankment, preserving the boat dock, boat portage and kayak slide and "the possibility or the functionality of connecting the future border-to-border trail through the right embankment site." He said the plan does restrict access across the dam, the left embankment side and the powerhouse.
Commissioners pressed for more detail. "Can you show that sketch of what the plan is again?" asked Commissioner Larry, who said the alternate footprint was a better outcome than the initial FERC expectation to fence the entire site. Wozorek said the right-side alignment involves trade-offs tied to the city’s emergency-response and operations needs: FERC treats the right-side area as part of the rapid response and recovery plan and expects it to be available for heavy equipment and staging in a dam emergency.
City staff stressed the security project is larger than fencing alone. Wozorek said the FERC audit called for improved locking mechanisms, lighting, cameras, gated entry and additional measures inside the powerhouse.
Staff told the commission bids for the security work are due later this week; Wozorek said he anticipates a contractor notice to proceed in July 2026 and a project completion roughly a year after that. He also warned the area will be an active construction, storage and staging zone for a long run of work tied to embankment repairs, intake improvements and other projects — on the order of 12 to 15 years.
Commissioners raised whether the site was formally parkland. Wozorek said the city attorney reviewed ownership transfers and the property’s classification and concluded the city has the legal authority to restrict access to meet safety and security requirements even if the public historically regarded portions of the land as parkland.
The presentation did not include a detailed timeline of pedestrian or trail detours; staff said they will continue conversations about what changes to public access mean for the park system and will provide updates as plans and construction schedules firm up.
