Construction crews in Champlin have started removing a historic 79-year-old dam near the Mill Pond that was originally built to power a flour mill.
Built in 1936, the Elm Creek Dam needed repairs and had outlived its effectiveness, said Todd Tuominen, assistant city engineer and project manager.
The opening in the dam, or spillway, was too small to let enough water flow through during downpours, said Jason Boyle, dam safety engineer for the state Department of Natural Resources. The new dam, expected to be completed by May 2016, will have a large spillway and other waterways to control heavy rains and severe flooding.
Design plans show that, with the new structure, flood plains adjacent to the Mill Pond could be reduced by as much as 60 acres, saving residents a total of about $100,000 in flood insurance.
Improving safety was also part of the $5.65 million project.
Every spring, city crews have had to manually adjust wooden boards used for water flow near the top of the dam. It has been dangerous work, Tuominen said.
The new design now has automatic adjustments, among other advancements.
The design includes a stair-step design spillway and other characteristics of the 1930s. Many of the details were intended to recall the historic status of the original Elm Creek Dam.