[dead]

At any point during the last century, did anybody consider replacing this with a concrete dam?

[Red Badger]

They sought advice from the New Orleans unit of the Army Corps of Engineers, and HIZZONNER Nagin...........

[Deguello]

"consider replacing this with a concrete dam?"

The entire state is granite and they build that dam out of wood...go figure.

Lots of interesting dams up there built with granite blocks.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

Er...

This is like the mine tailing wall near Vail Colorado which is holding back what will be a landslide of toxic heavy metals (primarily zinc) into the Eagle River. The retaining wall is made from large timbers that are over 100 years old. Same question - how do people avoid dealing with a problem like this?

[BigBobber]

At any point during the last century, did anybody consider replacing this with a concrete dam?

Dams all have about the same factor of safety, no matter what material they are built from. Wood crib dams are perfectly safe as long as they are maintained properly.

Dam material is often dictated by the foundation condition. In some locations a wood crib dam would work better than a concrete one.