St. Joseph River levels adjusted
In an effort to increase the quantity of water available during the summer months, the City’s Water Filtration Plant will perform its annual task installing flashboards at the St. Joe Dam beginning Monday May 3, 2010. The move will hold back more water in the reservoir behind the dam.
Beginning at midnight Saturday, May 1, 2010, the river level on the St. Joe River north of the dam will be lowered. The lowering is necessary to allow the spillway to dry up so crews can safely install the flashboards.
At the same time City Utilities will open the tainter gate at the Hosey Dam on the Maumee River. City Utilities will use the time period of lower rivers to examine and evaluate river bottom obstructions. This will lower river levels on the St. Marys, St. Joe and Maumee rivers for about 10 days to allow for the examination.
Once the flashboards at the St. Joe Dam are installed the river level north of the dam will rise by about 30 inches.