I am absolutely awestruck at what you guys accomplished in such a short time! This is looking very positive! I'm wondering if we should keep up the support by adding LTE in the local papers supporting the news stories ... or are we sure the news stories are enough? I don't have any connections with anyone, but I'll do what I can to support the cause! Awesome work dambusters! I can't wait for that party!
Wes

Yes, amazing the turn around. Whoever got this issue covered by the local media....wow, what a stir that created. I just heard on Ch.10 last night that they were contacted by JB with an official letter that they would work with the BWA to resolve this issue.

great work.

not to be picky....but can we make a play spot or at least keep a boof in there somewhere somehow, pretty please?

Now that this looks to be close to reality, I am curious if anyone can make a prediction as to the effect of the dam removal on the features upstream. Are we going to get more "warmup" surf waves? Are we going to get a new class III rapid? Class IV? Class VI with another mandatory portage (Okay, now I'm just getting paranoid).
Can JB make us a little park and surf spot while their at it?
Chris S

Chris Schardl

Whoa there horsey. We don't even know if we're talking removal or modification, ass-uming that this thing goes through, and that's a pretty big ass...

Remember, things were looking pretty good a year or so ago when it suddenly hit a brick wall, or cement dam as the case may be.

Barry, do we still have those modification plans hanging around that the graduate students drew up for us?

Hanley

this will more than likely change the Elkhorn a bit....

Bubba good news about the JB contact to WTVQ CH36/10 and kudos for the PR push has to go to Bethany and Hanley.

As far as building any play spots - lets first get that dam torn down. While I know there are dreams of sweet boofs and great play holes with eddy service dancing in all of our heads we need to stay focused on the basics right now and that's a complete removal of the dam. The bottom line is that while there are millions and millions of dollars of mitigation and grant money seeking dam removals there is not one penny out there for enhancing whitewater.

In this process it's probably imperative that the BWA stay on message as an advocate for public safety concerns first and last. Over the last 2 years that I have been involved in trying to bring down the JB dam one thing I have learned is that the idea of building any form of whitewater park on the Elkhorn there or anywhere on the creek is an issue that automatically creates massive amounts of controversy and is something that could very well derail the whole process.

We have made incredible progress so far on bringing the dam down and attracted media attention by focusing strictly on public safety and the environmental benefits. I hope everyone will agree that this is a game plan we should stick to like glue.
barryg

Agreed. Simple is better in this case. Run with it! Damn the dams!

I'm going to slightly modify what you'r saying here, Barry. We should maintain laser-like focus on removing the hazard, whether that involves modifying the dam in such a way that the impoundment remains, or complete removal. Either one is acceptable and we should focus on that. All other concerns should be considered secondary.

I can hardly wait to run the Elkhorn at 10,000 cfs.

Great photo, Brandon! That's you, right?
Chris S

Chris Schardl

Let's not forget that AW has lots of experience with dam removals, and may have useful information, contacts, studies, etc. Issues such as mitigating the sediment impact downstream on this favorite fishing stream, or sources of funding, grant writing assistance....

Z