Flandreau City / Dam
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Anglers like the dam on the Big Sioux River and are opposed to the city’s plan for possible removal, according to those who voiced concerns at a public informational meeting last week.
In a crowd of about 50 people, those who fish at the dam had strong opinions that removal will hurt the fishing and question why the city would spend as much as $2 million to take the dam out and put in a series of downstream j-shaped rock veins.
The area already has good fishing, said Barnie Solem, who asked what the proposed project would improve. “You’re ruining it.”
Work on coming up with a plan to remove the dam started several years ago when former Mayor Mark Bonrud said the dam is dangerous and should be taken out. Bonrud, who also was part of the Moody County Ambulance service, was called to the dam when people went in the water. He said he went in to try and rescue someone, while he was wearing a life vest and tied to a rope, and he had to be pulled out himself because of the current that takes people under and spits them back out.
“I learned first-hand what a drowning machine it was. It sucked me under twice before they pulled me to safety,” he said.
He hopes removal of the historic dam will prevent deaths there and would like to see it turned into a safe, beautiful place to go.
Project manager Ron Koth with Barr Engineering explained the plan the city council chose to look into further. The council has not voted to approve any plan at this point.