Concerns raised about canoe safety at Clermont dam

CLERMONT - Some people believe modifying a dam on the Turkey River here could improve fishing habitat while removing an impediment to people in canoes and kayakers.

Others believe the dam needs no change.

At a recent meeting with Department of Natural Resources officials, Clermont Mayor Rodney Wagner said the City Council has no plan for or interest in altering the dam.

While the city owns half the structure, the owners of the other half believe the city should take steps toward improving safety.

Roger and Donna Miller own the adjacent brick power plant and half of the approximate 100-foot structure that once helped create electricity.

The Millers said they don't oppose change to the dam as they feel it is unsafe in its present condition. The Millers said the large stop sign they placed on the river banks is the only signage warning recreationists of potential danger.

There's a canoe landing area on the south side of the river adjacent to a city park, but not all are aware they must take their canoes out there, Donna Miller said.

“You get up in our yard and it looks like one big, smooth river,” she said.

The Millers said they've watched kayakers successfully travel over the dam, but they fear for people in canoes.

"I'm tired of paying for an umbrella (insurance) policy,” due to potential liability, she said. “Everyone's coming out of the river on our side.”

Terri Baker, an owner of Skip-A-Way Campground just below the area, described the dam as “beautiful, but dangerous.” Her family operates a canoe/tube rental business.

“If I could trade all my canoes for kayaks I would, I get so many calls inquiring about kayaking on the Turkey right now,” she said.

“People are looking for bike trails, water activities and family recreation,” Baker said.

If the dam was modified to support white-water rafting, she said, “people will shoot the rapids, play in the park and go back and do it again.”

Clermont council member Bill Ashby said the city welcomes ideas to improve its canoe landing at the city park above the dam. But he believes leaving the dam intact is better for the local economy than removal. He suggests if recreationists can shoot the rapids they'll continue down river without stopping in the town.

Tubing and kayaking interests are growing said Nate Hoogeveen, director of DNR river programs.

He said while the Clermont dam isn't a high priority for repair or replacement, the DNR would provide assistance if converting the dam for white-water passage is supported.

Hoogeveen said the Turkey River will be the campus for the DNR's July 9-16 Project AWARE (A Watershed Awareness River Expedition.) The event brings more than 200 volunteers to northeast Iowa to clean up the river.

The three options Hoogeveen recommended included removal of the dam, constructing small rapids above the existing dam or constructing a rock arch rapids.

He said removing the dam could be done without great ecological consequences, and would not result in greater impact to those downstream in future floods. If rapids are constructed, they should be upstream so as not to affect the plunge pool below the dam providing fish habitat, he said.

- By Janell Bradley, Correspondent for The Gazette