One of Savannah River's oldest dams needs costly facelift

AUGUSTA - One of Savannah River&#39;s oldest dams turned 65 this year, but instead of retiring, it&#39;s going to need a costly facelift. <br> <br> Two years ago, the Army Corps of Engineers created an uproar when it recommended that the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam be decommissioned and removed. The dam was erected in 1937 to aid in commercial shipping. <br> <br> The lock and dam needs substantial repairs before it can be turned over to the coalition that will manage it, which includes Aiken County, Augusta and North Augusta. <br> <br> Local governments concerned about water levels in the Savannah River agreed to assume ownership and responsibility for the aging structure, provided Congress financed the pricey renovations first, The Augusta Chronicle reported Sunday. <br> <br> This year, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service are collaborating with Georgia and South Carolina to include a fish ladder in the renovations. A fish ladder is passageway for fish to get beyond the renovated dam. <br> <br> Such a passageway is important because it allows migratory fish access to many more miles of river channel. <br> <br> U.S. Fish & Wildlife biologist Steve Gilbert said consultants have narrowed the design of the fish ladder to two. <br> <br> ``Both options would be on the South Carolina side, because the lock is in the way on the Georgia side,&#39;&#39; he told the Augusta newspaper. <br> <br> One design involves a ``partial rock ramp&#39;&#39; that would replace the last gate on the South Carolina side. A vertical wall parallel to the shore would support a series of U-shaped rock weirs with flowing water. <br> <br> The alternative, now favored by the corps, involves building a horseshoe-shaped channel on the South Carolina side that would allow fish to swim around and bypass the dam.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/8/191181