The city of Ann Arbor officially launched the Barton Dam embankment remediation project in early March. The project, expected to be completed in June of 2027, reflects a multi-year effort to preserve the dam’s infrastructure and ensure compliance with federal safety regulations.
Located near Barton Pond and the Barton Nature Area, the dam is an important part of the city’s water management system as it provides Ann Arbor with a consistent source of drinking water. The goal of the ongoing work is to stabilize a berm — a flat strip of raised land that helps to support the structural integrity of a dam — on the downstream slope of the dam’s right embankment. The project is a part of the city’s Capital Improvements Plan and is being partially funded by $2 million from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Due to the magnitude and location of the project, certain public areas near the dam are restricted during construction, including walking paths beneath the railroad bridge at the Barton Nature Area and on-site access to Barton Pond. Additionally, crossing railroad tracks outside of the designated areas remains illegal. Despite these restrictions, the city has allowed access to a pedestrian bridge over the Huron River and the city public boat launch site downstream of the pedestrian bridge.
Lisa Wondrash, communications director for the City of Ann Arbor, wrote in an email to The Michigan Daily the city is working towards maintaining public access while also prioritizing safety. “Visitors to this area are asked to comply with the posted safety restrictions, barricades and signage on site and to use caution in areas that remain open, such as the parking lot, pathway and other areas west of the Huron River, as some of these open areas will be shared by construction operations and construction traffic,” Wondrash wrote.
The project will also include upgrades to site accessibility, such as widening the existing pathway underneath the railroad underpass at the site and other dam maintenance tasks required by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulations.
Rackham student Emma Noraian, a founding member of the Engineering Sustainable Systems Club, wrote in an email to The Daily that dam restoration is crucial to prevent serious consequences if the dam were to fall. “Dam and embankment restoration is critical for ensuring safety for downstream properties and infrastructure to prevent a catastrophic failure of the dam,” Noraian wrote. “Right now the City of Ann Arbor gets 85% of drinking water from the Huron River. If there were a dam burst, the water chemistry and flow conditions would likely be altered; potentially causing issues with existing water infrastructure or other downstream development.”
In an interview with the Daily, LSA senior Christina Uytingco, triple major in earth and environmental sciences, Spanish and the environment, expressed cautious optimism about the restoration efforts and their potential positive impacts on the health of the river.
“I think, for the most part, the city government is trying to restore the health of the river,” Uytingco said. “I was doing a bit of research on the Barton Dam, and I was actually there just a couple days ago — I didn’t even realize it was going to be closed. But it seems like they’re addressing some important issues, like stability concerns and potential seepage.”
Engineering freshman Ian Cox, a member of the University of Michigan Running Club, wrote in an email to The Daily the construction with the dam has impacted one of his favorite running routes that crosses the dam. “My favorite route that we normally run is called Willis, which runs up the river on the north side, then we cross the dam and run down the south side of the river,” Cox wrote. “I didn’t know the construction was happening until I got to the dam and saw I couldn’t cross.”
While he noted the importance of maintenance for keeping the dam safe, Cox emphasized the importance of access to natural areas for student well-being. “Having places to run in nature is really a way for me to decompress and get away from the stress of school,” Cox wrote. “While it’s annoying now that the dam is under construction, I’ve figured out other places to run — and when the construction finishes, I’ll be ready to enjoy it again.”
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