Another perspective on the Monticello dam

To the Editor,

     I served on the Jones County Conservation Board for 17 years in the ‘70s and ‘80s. The dam was a topic of discussion during my tenure on the county board. During this time, the Army Corps of Engineers became involved in what I remember as an informal study of the Kitty Creek flooding. It was thought at the time that removal of the dam or part of the south end would lower the water level in the river and allow the creek to drain faster and alleviate some of the flooding problem on the east end of Monticello. Now with the reconstruction of the Delhi dam and elimination of homes and businesses in that flood plain (in Monticello), that problem is probably solved.

     To set the record straight, I am neither for or against removal of the dam, but would like to point out a topic that has been mentioned but not discussed adequately.

     Fishing from or walking on the dam’s apron can be very dangerous as it can be slippery and falling off into the backwash (turbulence) can be deadly even for an accomplished swimmer, especially during increased river levels. Stories have been told of young people during real low river levels ducking under the apron and going up inside the dam. The Corps of Engineers told us the dam is a concrete cap poured over the original log dam. And there are possible voids inside the dam.

     My point is if the dam is to stay, it needs to be repaired to eliminate this hazard and also baffles installed below the apron like incorporated in the design of the new spillway at Delhi. This breaks up the turbulent and dangerous water below the apron.

     What is more important? The nostalgic value of a 100-year-old dam or the safety of it? Let’s not wait until there is a loss of life and then say why didn’t somebody do something.

Larry Behrends

Monticello, Iowa