April 2012 - Independent Times Magazine

PAGE 4 - April 2012 - Independent Times
A Dam Site More Fun!
Argo Cascades Canoers
By Judith C. White
Recent construction of a boat
bypass around Argo Dam in the
old Argo millrace has opened up
a whole new world of recreational
opportunities for people of all ages.
For the first time since 1830, when the
channel was built to power flour and
woolen mills, the portage has been
removed, and the now free-flowing
section of the Huron River has been
transformed into a series of nine
gradual drops and shallow, waistdeep pools for people in tubes, rafts,
canoes, and kayaks to enjoy.
More than 500 people taking a
recent online survey have named the
amenity, “Argo Cascades at Argo
Canoe Livery.” “Greater accessibility
was the primary reason for the
extensive transformation,” says Ann
Arbor Parks & Recreation Services
Manager Colin Smith. “Argo liveries,”
he adds, “are the largest in the state
with over 400 boats and 40,000 people
paddling from them each year.”
Construction and design started
in November 2010 when the Ann
Arbor City Council approved the
actual project. Prior to final approval,
there was a great deal of community
discussion about what to do with Argo
Dam: should it stay or should it go?
The Michigan Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) and the Huron River
Watershed Council favored removal
of the dam. Many recreational users
and neighbors, however, strongly
objected.
The State, which actually
regulates dams and embankments, had
informed the City several years ago
that it had identified problems with
the embankment that the City needed
to repair. In 2004, the Dam Safety
Office of the Michigan DNR inspected
Argo Dam and became particularly
concerned that “the embankment was
becoming saturated with water, which
can lead to the sudden disintegration
of a dam.” Reportedly, saturation is
the second-most common cause of
embankment dam failure, and that’s
why the Dam Safety Office ordered
the city to either fix the problem or
remove the dam.
According to Smith, “That would
have meant an expensive repair-with or without improvements.”
Surprisingly, perhaps, “bids weren’t
that different between just the repair
and the improvements that would
enhance amenities and community
accessibility,” says Smith.
In its March 1, 2012, press
release, the Ann Arbor Parks &
Recreation Department reported that
construction at the site over the next
eight weeks will involve replacement
of the bridge over the entry to the
Argo Cascades. Insertion of a stop log
to prevent the flow of water through
Continued Next Page
Independent Times - April 2012 - PAGE 5
From Previous Page
the Argo Cascades will result in its
closure until approximately mid-April.
Pedestrians will not have access to this
area during this time, but detour signs
will be in place. After installation of
the new bridge, the stop log will be
removed to allow for water flow to be
reestablished in the Argo Cascades.
No More Heavy Lifting
Ann Arbor Canoe Livery Parks
& Recreation Department Facility
Supervisor Cheryl Saam notes that
people will now be able to get into
Argo and paddle all the way to Gallup
Park without having to portage their
kayaks. Those who prefer walking
alongside the river rather than paddling
on top of it will enjoy the new and
wider paved path that extends 1500
feet from the old Mill Race at Argo all
the way to Gallup Park.
Adds Saam, “The only remaining
part of the well-used, Border-toBorder trail that was not compliant
with the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) is now fully accessible,”
which is certainly good news for
everyone. Says Saam, “If people
take the opportunity to paddle down
the river between Barton and Argo,
especially in the early morning hours,
they will become stewards of it. Even
people who don’t want to be on the
river can simply walk or hang out
with friends. With parkland on both
sides, these amenities should do a lot
to bring more awareness of the river
into the city.”
Transportation in 15-passenger
vans from Gallup Park to Barton
is another major convenience for
visitors. From there, they can paddle
back nearly six miles to their original
destination, a scenic journey that
takes about 2.5 hours by canoe or
kayak. Says Saam, “We’ll have staff
members monitoring the length of the
Cascades to see how it’s working and
to learn what we can do to make the
experience even better.”
Argo Cascades Aerial Location.
More to Come
Other new features include
installation of bridges at each end
of the millrace, and in the next year
or so, two white-water features in
the main river stem will be added. A
coffee shop, moonlight paddles, and
canoe and kayak instruction will also
be available. In addition to exploring
more tubing and boating options,
Saam is also experimenting with rafts,
which may be of special interest to
older people and families with young
children.
“Located in the heart of Ann
Arbor, this section of river and trail
will become a recreation destination
for our community,” says Smith.
Major benefits for visitors to the
Cascades include opportunities for
family fun, increased environmental
awareness, and greater appreciation
of nature and wildlife.
Mark Your Calendars!
The Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation
team is still working out the details,
but a Grand Opening featuring music,
food, and Huron River history, is
slated for Saturday, June 2, from noon
to 3 p.m.
“If people take the opportunity to
paddle down the river between Barton
and Argo, especially in the early
morning hours, they will become
stewards of it.” – Cheryl Saam
Continued Page 6
PAGE 6 - April 2012 - Independent Times
From Page 5
experiences on the river, combined
with Johnston’s knowledge and
Remember This?
On the shores of Gitche Gumee, vivid stories, captured Longfellow’s
O f t h e s h i n i n g B i g - S e a - Wa t e r, imagination, inspiring him to create
his epic poem.
Stood Nokomis…
To this day, readers of a certain age And for decades, no American
can probably recite these lines—and youngster’s education would have
more—from The Song of Hiawatha, been considered complete without
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s having to memorize and recite
famous poem. But did you know that passages from The Song of Hiawatha.
Henry Rowe Schoolcraft (for whom (Note: this challenge was often
Schoolcraft College in Livonia is met with some serious kicking and
named) provided the poet with much screaming. Mostly from parents.)
of his source material?
In 1820, Schoolcraft served as the Let’s Go Swimming!
geologist on Lewis Cass’s expedition In her book, Riverwalks, Ann
of Michigan’s Great Lakes and the Arbor, Barbara Bentley writes, “One
headwaters of the Mississippi. A few activity which has been absent from
years later, he married Jane Johnston, Argo Pond since 1948 is swimming.
a writer and daughter of Ojibwe and The island in the river near Argo
Scots-Irish parents. She shared her Canoe Livery is a manmade island that
people used to swim over to.” It was
knowledge of the Ojibwe language
Cross-Check
and legends with her husband, who created “by people piling sand, soil,
© 2012 SnowMountain
Productions
island-building materials
happenedbytoP.J.
beSchneeberger
a friend of the
great and ad hoc
Find words and celebrity name to fit the
clues.
Match
letters
on
the
ice
during
the winter in the
poet. It is said that Schoolcraft’s
Celebrity
with numbers in each square to cross-check answers.
1
2
3
4
5
6
-Stare daggers
designated spot.”
From 1917 to 1948, the Argo
Municipal Bathing Beach was a
major summer attraction, especially
for young people. In today’s world
of “barely there” swimwear, can you
imagine having to don a woolen suit
just to get “cooled off” at the beach?
And for the man who has everything,
there’s a handsome pair of Depressionera wool swim trunks available on
eBay® for $425.
Some Things Never Change
In 1924, the University of
Michigan Alumnae Council surveyed
hundreds of women (http://bentley.
umich.edu), many of whom fondly
recalled the Huron River in words that
ring true today:
“The best way to ‘cram’ for
exams is to cram one’s mind full of
the peacefulness of drifting down the
Huron in canoe and twilight.”
“Breakfast on the banks of the
Huron, eaten between solemn and
earnest statements dealing with
such matters as the universe, human
progress, socialism, religion, and
philosophy…”
“…we took lots of comfort going
up the river canoeing in summer …
sometimes a bunch of us would get up
at 4 o’clock in the morning and watch
the sun rise & the birds awakening
along the river.”
How can anyone resist? It’s time
to get out there and enjoy all there
is to see and do at Argo Cascades at
Argo Canoe Livery! n

11
12
13
7
8
1
9
10
- Bodily strength
8
5
14
15
5
-Wisdom

Silver
Fox offers16privacy
and the5freedom

17 18 1
-Cause to start moving
to
live the way you choose in comfortable


surroundings.
A total of17fifty-one
homes
11 12 2
10 5

-Military gesture
of respect
nestled
on a large 7.5 acre site provide


open green
spaces. 16
Enjoy
the
privacy of

2
12 7
5
14 10

-Flickering
your
own
home
with
the
ability
to
partici
 
pate
in as much15or as
little
as4 you18wish.

6
3
 
-Throng
Escape
to small-town, maintenance-free

 
living
now!
Units
are
available for
lease

4
9
3
13 13 5
6
-Descriptor
a big fish or lie
 for
at
$840.00 monthly.
 
5
6
2
12 8
14
 

 
NBA's only 
player to score 100 points in a single
game (50 yrs ago)
 


4
8
2
10
15 9
12 7
16

Celebrity Cross-Check answers
Puzzle on Page 11
GLOWER, MIGHT, SAPIENCE, BUDGE, SALUTE,
LAMBENT, CROWD, WHOPPER
WILT CHAMBERLAIN