In Northern Michigan, Boyne Mountain Resort, a subsidiary of Boyne USA, has owned and operated a Hydroelectric Dam on the Boyne River since the 1980’s. The project, regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), provides clean power and aligns with the resort's commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.
J. E. Tiffany & Associates has had a trusted, long-standing relationship of collaboration with Boyne Mountain Resort. In 2017, Boyne asked J. E. Tiffany & Associates to assist them with applying for a subsequent license for their hydroelectric project. The comprehensive engineering analyses required for that process brought to light two significant dam safety concerns. Those concerns have been addressed by two subsequent projects: reconstruction of the riverbanks immediately downstream of the dam in late 2022 and major
improvements to the main embankment in 2023 to improve its stability.
Client Profile: Boyne Resorts
Boyne Resorts, an essential economic and recreational hub in Northern Michigan, relies on the Boyne River Hydroelectric dam to support its sustainable energy goals. In support of their goals as a leading recreation provider in northern Michigan and their environmental stewardship goals, they chose to make major investments in dam safety. Their trust relationship, built
on decades of collaboration, played a vital role in selecting J. E. Tiffany & Associates to engineer these critical tasks.
The primary objective of the first project was to reconstruct the downstream riverbanks with an innovative and rigorous engineered approach.
Eroded Riverbank, North Side
The client's goals were:
1. Safety and Environmental Compliance: As a leader in dam safety, J. E. Tiffany & Associates were tasked with ensuring that the project met important dam safety and environmental concerns.
2. Minimized Long-term Maintenance: The project design needed to be robust to withstand high flows, maintain riverbank stability and hold up to heavy angler foot traffic.
3. Cost Efficiency: Aligning with Boyne Mountain's budget considerations required a solution that was financially feasible without
compromising quality or safety.
4. Recreational Optimization: Boyne provides access to the area downstream of the dam as a recreational component of the
hydroelectric project. Meeting the needs of the anglers for access to the area immediately downstream of the dam was paramount.
Degraded Riverbank, South Side
The Journey
More than a century of erosion and sloughing had ravaged the riverbanks immediately downstream of the dam, threatening the integrity of the toe area of the embankments on either side of the powerhouse and spillway. J. E. Tiffany & Associates designed a permanent restoration of the riverbanks.
The elegant design consisted of three stair-stepped rows of large limestone blocks along the river's edge. An engineered filter system consisting of a layer of coarse sand, a layer of 2” stone, and an 18-inch layer of riprap allowed the release of groundwater seepage from the slopes while retaining the underlying soil in place. The design also offered a stable walking surface for
fishermen during the busy fish migration in the fall.
Riverbank Restoration Underway
Outcome
Completed in November and December of 2022, this phase successfully achieved the owner's objectives, ensuring the permanent stability of the riverbanks downstream of the dam and adjacent dam embankments while accommodating recreational fishing opportunities in the Boyne River.
Riverbank Restoration Almost Complete
Completed Project
Overview of Restored Riverbanks