Logansport Removing Historic Dams
One of the Eel River dams to be removed by Logansport Municipal Utility.
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowLogansport Municipal Utility is moving ahead with plans to remove two historic dams from the Eel River. The utility has chosen Deichman Excavating’s bid of $300,000 for the work to remove a large dam located at 10th Street and a smaller dam downstream.
The utility says the 10th Street dam was originally completed in 1857 following a three-year construction process for the Logansport Waterworks and Electric Company. The smaller dam was built in 1835, but the utility says neither dam is being used.
The city of Logansport says the Eel River once had 14 dams, mostly for milling and power sources, which were nearly all destroyed naturally. Other cities along the river, including Manchester and Liberty Mills already removed dams in 2012 and another near Mexico was taken out in 2016.
LMU says the process to release more water flow from the dam gates has begun, which allows water to be rerouted for equipment to be to be deployed. A coal conveyor that runs along the river will also be removed.
Removal is set to begin Sunday and finish by December 1.