A growing log jam at the Oakland Mills Dam on the Skunk River has Henry County officials discussing both immediate and long-term solutions.
During his department head report at the July 2 meeting of the Henry County Board of Supervisors, Conservation Director Caleb Waters said debris has continued to accumulate at the dam, creating a situation that county employees cannot safely address.
Waters told supervisors removing the debris with county staff would present significant liability and safety concerns. While hiring a specialized barge company is considered the safest short-term option, he said the cost is substantial and shouldn’t have to come entirely from the Conservation Department’s budget.
Waters suggested the county consider sharing the expense among departments, noting that debris removed from bridges by the Secondary Roads Department can eventually make its way downstream to the dam.
County Engineer Jake Hotchkiss responded that his department is required by law to prevent debris from accumulating at county bridges to protect the structures. He emphasized that whenever crews can safely pull debris to shore and burn it, they do so.
Hotchkiss said the department is not intentionally sending debris downstream and agreed that a broader conversation involving multiple departments would be appropriate.
Looking beyond the immediate cleanup, Waters encouraged the Board of Supervisors to pursue a permanent solution. He suggested working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study the possibility of constructing a wing dam or jetty that could redirect the river’s flow and reduce future debris buildup at the dam.
Waters shared his thoughts that investing in a long-term engineering solution would ultimately be a better use of taxpayer dollars than repeatedly paying for costly debris removal year after year. The supervisors took no action during the meeting but indicated the discussion will continue to address the log jam at the Oakland Mills Dam.
