‘I give a dam’ project for Lidtke

Lime Springs - The century-old dam at Lidtke Mill, one mile north of Lime Springs, is in need of repair. Estimates have the cost over $600,000, but board members are looking at breaking it down into phases.

President of the board, Roy Herman Lidtke, grandson of long-time owner Herman Lidtke, says the first phase of the “I give a dam” project is to fix the exit flue. “Water has undermined it. The concrete is just floating. We are guessing the first phase will cost about $20,000.”

Currently, the spillway leading from the mill to the river below is crumbling and has been off limits to visitors and fishermen all summer.

Other problems with the dam include the concrete of the dam eroding; rebar being exposed and sticking out from the dam; and the edges of the dam eroding. 

If the dam fails, it really won’t hurt anything downstream. Howard County Conservation Director Harold Chapman said it would be like a flood. “The first mile or so would see devastation, but by the time it hit Jenkins’ bridge, it would be fine.”

But a dam fail could hurt recreational and camping activities at Lidtke Mill.

“The dam is considered private, and there are no state or federal funds to help,” Lidtke said. 

Several small, local grants have been received to help with the dam repair. Lidtke has been in touch with Upper Explorerland, who helped get a grant for a different dam and is hoping they can help the Lidtke Mill board with bigger grants.

At present, the board is having a fund-raising campaign. Pamphlets have been mailed locally encouraging donations. There are different levels of recognition.

• Buy a gate — Donate $10,000

• Buy a flue water exit —  $5,000

• Buy a race water entryway — $2,500

• Buy a linear foot of the dam — $1,000

• Buy a large brick — $500

• Buy a small brick — $250

• Buy a square foot — $100

• Donate $50 — Get a Lidtke Mill “I GIVE A DAM” sweatshirt

• Donate $25 — Get an “I GIVE A DAM” t-shirt.

All donations are tax deductible.

Send your donation to Lidtke Mill Dam Restoration, CUSB Bank, P.O. Box 157, Lime Springs, IA 52155.

 

Info on Lidtke Mill

The first mill was built in 1857 of wood, rock and mud. It needed many repairs. D.W. Davis purchased the mill property in 1915, and in 1916, he replaced the old dam with a new concrete one.