[Rhodes22-list] Resending Path Of The Flood Waters From Wixom Dam

[ROGER PIHLAJA]

Hi All,

Mary Lou Troy told me my PowerPoint topo map got stripped off for the list.  Perhaps the file size is too big.  So, here is a screen shot of the topo map image.  Hopefully, the list will allow this image.  This should make the previous post more understandable.

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
[cid:image003.png at 01D63134.E87A2DF0]


Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows 10

From: ROGER PIHLAJA<mailto:roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2020 10:53 AM
To: Troop 767 Group e-mail<mailto:troop767 at troop767.net>
Subject: Finally some good news!

Hi All,

The attached MS PowerPoint document is a high resolution topo map of the south end of Wixom Lake showing the location of Johnson Mini Storage, the failure point in the Wixom dam and the path of the floodwaters as far south as the Curtis Road bridge.  When the dam failed, the water level was ~10 feet higher than normal summer pool.  As you can see, the Tittabawassee River channel downstream of the dam is a relatively steep sided gorge (i.e. topo contour lines closely spaced).  The Johnson Mini Storage facility sits on top of an ~20 foot high mound relative to the surrounding area.  The flood waters flowed all around the storage facility; but, left it high and dry!  So, although my stuff is safe, the Johnson Mini Storage facility sits between two damaged bridges, the M-30 Causeway over Wixom Lake to the north and the M-30 Bridge over the Tittabawassee River in Edenville to the south.  Until one of these bridges is repaired, there is no way to get to Johnson Mini Storage.  It’s also clear why the floodwaters washed away the western approach to the Curtis Road Bridge.

The other attachment is a link to some U-Tube drone footage shot by one of my neighbors.  He has a car in storage at Johnson Mini Storage, so he has some skin in the game.  This ~5 minute long video clip starts near the western end of the Wixom dam and flies east along the dam until it gets to M-30.  Note, that this is not the part of the dam that failed.  I will try to get some footage of that as well, so stay tuned!  As the drone flies over the flood gates on the Tobacco River side of the dam (i.e. West Arm of Wixom Lake), note that the flood gates are completely closed and there is no flow.  Can someone explain to me why a dam operator would close the flood gates during a flood?  This may have something to do with why the M-30 Causeway got blown out.  At M-30, the drone turns south and follows the road over to Johnson Mini Storage.  Note that all the trees are still standing, the perimeter fence is still there, none of the buildings appear damaged or even water stained, the stored boats are still parked in neat rows, and the white gravel parking lot is not covered in brown mud.  Clearly, this place didn’t even get wet!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZRJ3MFIpnc&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0x_nxlD_b8P9cEIEyTqnwONukqtcQUkmz2oiXISHtHmTpp_a0I_Fid4Sc

My insurance agent is so overwhelmed with claims that next week Thursday was the soonest I could get an appointment.  So, stay tuned!

Wixom Lake and Sanford Lake are now drained down to the original Tittabawassee River channel.  The “river” in front of my house is ~80 yards wide with a 2-3 mph current.  Paddle trips from my house just became like 1-way river trips with a put-in, a take-out, and a vehicle shuttle.

We got back all our utilities last night!  Life is good!

Roger Pihlaja
ASM T767

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