banner
banner
banner
banner
banner
banner
banner
banner
banner
banner
banner

Local News

Irving embankment repairs complete; snowmelt, spring rains will bring Thornapple River back to normal

Flood waters last February washed away part of the earthern embankment and around the power canal gate above the hydroelectric plant on the Thornapple River in Irving. What natives call the Irving Dam, technically the bypass gate, was unaffected.

 

 

With the earthern berm breached, the backwater above the bypass gate drained away, leaving dead grass and weeds and a very small stream of river.

 

Repairs are complete and hopefully by March, the outdoor temperatures and the water level will be back to normal, possibly a little sooner than that, said Scott Goodwin, owner of Commonwealth Power of California. His company also owns the LaBarge dam in Caledonia Township and the Middleville dam  

 

Getting repairs done required a lot of paperwork, and the state and federal agencies have a process they have to use, “but they worked with us,” Goodwin said. “We appreciate the cooperation of the state agencies and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.”

 

Engineer Brian Cenci, vice president of ENG, Inc. has worked for Barry County on drain issues since 2009; he worked on site and with Commonwealth’s internal engineers on the repairs; the contractors were Jackson Dirt Works from Lake Odessa.

 

“Cenci is a capable young man, he did a great job. Jackson also did a great job, we were lucky to work with them.”

 

Photos: (upper left) Before: Part of the embankment is washed away by flood waters, as well as the area around and under the power canal gate (top middle).

 

(left) After: The embankment has been reconstructed and the power canal gate repaired. The usual snow melt and spring rains will bring the river up to normal levels this spring.

Listen Live

DOWNLOAD OUR MOBILE APP

FOR YOUR PHONE OR TABLET!

     

Weather

On Air Now

Best Country Hits
Best Country Hits
3:00pm - 7:00pm
Afternoon Drive