Pine River rock riffle dam project underway

Construction of a rock riffle dam in Pine River began just before Thanksgiving when the city's contractor, Landwehr Construction, began prepping the surrounding area for work and moving rocks into place to control water flow.

Landwehr is constructing a dam from rows of rocks at the northeast end of Barclay Avenue near Kater Park. This project follows a summer Minnesota Department of Transportation bridge construction project that started in May and wrapped up Sept. 3.

This is all part of a project to replace the long obsolete dam and bridge in Pine River and to separate the dam and bridge, simplifying the jurisdictional boundaries surrounding maintenance.

Rains in the fall set back other projects with Landwehr, which may have delayed the dam work timeline somewhat. However, City Engineer Bryan Drown said the project could still be completed by February as anticipated.

"It maybe delayed them with other projects, but now they're here and getting going," Drown said.

Drown said this week they are installing a sheet pile wall and preparing to install a bypass system. By the middle of next week the construction crew will likely start to place the boulders that will make up the structure of the new rock riffle dam.

Additional design and project information, including progress and a timeline, can be found at https://cityofpineriver.org/index.asp?SEC=851B9766-7BDC-4A27-BDB6-40C956025A27&Type=B_BASIC

Travis Grimler is a staff writer for the Pineandlakes Echo Journal weekly newspaper in Pequot Lakes/Pine River. He may be reached at 218-855-5853 or travis.grimler@pineandlakes.com.

1/4: The crew with Landwehr Construction is preparing the construction site in at the dam in Pine River for installation of large boulders, which will likely begin in a little more than a week from Monday, Nov. 20, 2021. Travis Grimler / Echo Journal

2/4: Landwehr Construction crew members use heavy machinery to position a support before driving it into the ground in Pine River on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021.. Denton Newman Jr. / PineandLakes.com

3/4: After positioning a support, Landwehr Construction crew members inspect it before using heavy machinery to drive it into the ground in Pine River on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021. Denton Newman Jr / PineandLakes.com

4/4: While the equipment operator on the right drives a support into riverbed, another operator (left) uses his heavy equipment to retrieve and move another support into position on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021. Denton Newman Jr. / PineandLakes.com