Now that flooding from the heavy rains in Northport have passed, assessment of flood damage to village structures like the Mill Pond Dam can commence.
On June 29, the Northport area received heavy rainfall totaling anywhere between 3.5 to 5.5 inches over the course of two to three hours. The severe weather conditions caused flooding throughout town, making some local roads temporarily impassable and overtopping the Mill Pond Dam structure. While the high water in the impoundment damaged the wooden boardwalk on top of the dam structure and fishing platform and removed them from their fixed positions, the dam structure itself remained intact.
Northport Department of Public Works (DPW) Superintendent Chris Holton said a lot of the flood waters on roads and throughout the village receded over a 48 hour-long time period. This week, a field representative from GEI Consultants Inc., a consulting engineering and environmental firm that’s been working with the village for the last few years, is scheduled to stop by to inspect the dam in its current condition.
Following the flooding and dam overtopping, Holton said DPW received permission from the state’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to remove some of the stop logs to draw down the water and monitor it. Holton assured that the dam is “still structurally sound” at this time based on what they can see, and added that they have plans to remove the last three boards by Tuesday.
“So what people are seeing is a controlled and a permitted draw down. We’ve got to get the water out of the pond so we can see truly the condition of the dam,” Holton said.
In the meantime, Holton said they will have to wait to see what the inspectors from GEI determine and recommend to move forward following their assessment this week. More information regarding GEI’s inspection will also be available in the weeks ahead.
Fourth of July festivities in town, including Northport’s annual fireworks show, went smoothly on Saturday, Holton reported, adding that there was a great turnout, between 3,000 to 4,000 people in attendance, despite the flooding earlier in the week. A live local band, K. Jones & the Benzie Playboys, as well as the Northport Community Band, performed during Fourth of July village festivities, and the Northport citizen of the year was announced.
“After the week we had, we’re really glad it went so well,” Holton said.
