The Franklin News-Post
P. O. Box 250
310 Main Street, SW
Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151
540-483-5113
Fax: 540-483-8013
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Staff Photo by Morris Stephenson:
Excavating Contractor Paul Shively Friday morning relocates a large river rock from downstream to the front of Rocky Mounts water treatment plants low-head dam on the Blackwater River. Work on the project officially begins today (Monday). |
Monday, August 10, 2009
By MORRIS STEPHENSON - Staff Writer
Using a huge track hoe with a 60-foot reach, operator Paul Shively gently lifted a large rock from the Blackwater River and let it slip from the bucket into a spot in front of the low-head dam.
Shively, a well-known excavating contractor, was using the large rock to test the depth of the water in front of the dam, where two canoers perished within two months.
Before mid-morning Friday, Shively had selected two more large natural rocks from downstream.
Two others were placed in different locations in front of the dam, which is about 60 feet wide.
"I was surprised a little," Shively said. "It wasn't as deep as I thought. It's about four feet deep right now. Of course, I guess it'll get deeper as the water rises."
At the time Shively was placing the rocks, the U.S. Geological Survey gauge at the Route 122 bridge showed the Blackwater was running at about 2.4 feet.
The river was at approximately 3.5 feet when experienced canoer Chris Odum, 38, of Union Hall drowned June 5.
Nichole Underwood Mason, 21, of Ferrum died at the same location on July 29. She was a beginner in the sport, having paddled for only a couple of months.
Actual work to eliminate the hydraulic in front of the structure will not begin until Monday morning, according to Shively.
That is when he will begin strategically placing rocks, from class four to class one in front of the dam. He will use the first rip-rap to build a pad for the track hoe, which weighs more than 60,000 pounds.
Shively explained he will place the bigger rocks at the base of the dam and then begin filling in with the smaller sizes.
"I will start working on the far side of the dam first and work my way across. That way I can back the track hoe up and use the rocks that are in the base until I use them all," he added.
The rocks will eliminate the hydraulic, which is created as the water pours over the dam, hits the bottom and starts a churning motion that is powerful enough to trap a person.
As Shively worked, Bob Deitrich, water plant superintendent, watched and took pictures before the contractor explained exactly how he would carry out the project, estimated to cost about $15,000. Another $5,000 will be used to improve safety features upstream of the dam.
A large 3-foot by 5-foot warning sign was strung by cable above the river approximately 75 yards upstream of the dam.
The white signs with bright orange letters warn of a dam ahead with a drowning risk and to exit to the right.
Deitrich said the sign on the cable, which is more than 10 feet above the water, was put into place Wednesday.
He said a strong light will be put into place to enable to boaters to see the hanging sign, the one on the bank as well as the exit ramp.
A portage path will be built and signs along the way will direct paddlers to another ramp downstream from the dam where boaters can safely reenter the river.
Deitrich said a new electrical wire will be added to light the new signs and ramp upstream. "We'll start work immediately on the new electrical system," he said.
There is a powerful light mounted on the side of the building next to the dam. It is a sensor light and turns on at dark and off at dawn.
Shively noted that all of the work should be done without having to enter the water with his equipment.
"I can reach the other side from the platform that will be in place Monday so I don't foresee any problems," he explained.
Once the project is completed, there will be no hydraulic in front of the low-head dam. The signs with the international symbol prohibit paddlers from going any farther downstream.
Should a paddler go over the dam, both the boater and craft will be going over rip-rap, so "they're not going to have a good time," said Scott Martin, head of the Franklin County Department of Commerce and Leisure Services.
Martin joined Rocky Mount Town Manager James Ervin and other government officials to come up with a feasible solution to eliminate the low-head dam's hydraulic as well as improve boater safety.
Once the Blackwater River project is completed, town and county officials are expected to direct their efforts to the Pigg River low-head dam at Veterans' Memorial Park on Scuffling Hill Road. That dam is also creating the same type of hydraulic, especially when the river is running above normal.
This solution will not be as simple since the presence of the endangered Roanoke logperch will require extensive, time-consuming permitting paper work by federal agencies, officials say. |
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