Ledger Inquirer: This week, it’s Bill Reaves to the rescue

There has been much in the way of speculation following last week’s column about the phantom chunk of steel discovered in the Chattahoochee along the whitewater course.

Some speculated that it could have come down in the flooding just after Christmas, when we got record rainfall and the river was almost as high as I’ve ever seen it. Others said that wasn’t possible, and that if January’s flooding was involved, it was probably what dislodged it from the bottom, where it had been lurking for who-knows-how-long.

One guy speculated that it might be debris caused by the extensive renovation going on at City Mills. But that’s not possible. The 10-ton chunk (actually two chunks) were found several hundred yards north of City Mills and on the other side of the river. I know the Hooch has some crazy and strong currents, but I doubt any of them could haul 20,000 pounds of steel upstream.

The most likely explanation comes from a well-informed source, Ed Kinner, who provided engineering input for whitewater during the planning, design and construction phase. He said he came across some similar steel closer to the North Highland Dam during whitewater construction and guessed it came from the same source.

“The steel was located in two separate clumps, was twisted and bent, and looked like it had been subjected to high stresses. It was clearly steel sheet piling,” Kinner wrote in an email. “Steel sheet piling is frequently used in construction to support the sides of trench excavations, for temporary cofferdams and other uses.”

Kinner said they further speculated that the sheet piling came from a much earlier construction project around the dam, possibly 50-60 years ago.

I also spoke to Robert Watkins, spokesman for Georgia Power, who had been in contact with Kinner. He said while Georgia and Alabama Power and Phenix City Public Works were trying to figure out how to haul away the tons of steel with equipment not designed for the job, they got a call from Bill Reaves of Reaves Wrecking.

“He saw your article and just called Alabama Power and volunteered,” Watkins said. “They’re in the process of cutting it up now.”

David Quinney, manager of Alabama Power’s Phenix City office, said Reaves has long been a strong supporter of the river and a frequent partner with both power companies when they needed a hand.

“He helped us haul out and haul away six to eight tons of old tires one time,” Quinney said. “Bill has been a great friend of the river for as long as I can remember.”

Good job, Bill, and thanks for the help.

This story was originally published July 10, 2016 at 9:53 PM with the headline "Ledger Inquirer: This week, it’s Bill Reaves to the rescue."