Dam being built for swimming hole

[Bamboozle]

Demolition is ALWAYS in my playbook...

Mainly because I like to leave things as I found them (you know, the footprints thing) and like to find things as if I was the first person to come across them, as impossible as that is in today's world...

For that reason I hate rock cairns as much as spray paint, worm containers, Y-sticks left in the bank, fire rings or remnants of fires, forts, homemade rock dams and other man-made bull$#!+ in the woods or along streams, lakes, ponds, etc.

Don't leave it behind and tell me it's for someone else to use or admire, get your rocks off (pardon the pun), take a few pics and clean up your F'n mess before you leave...!!

In regards to dams...

There was one dam in particular I came across on a well known Class A that runs though publicly owned property that ran behind some homes whose property DID NOT include the creek. The dam was about 2+feet high and was holding back a lot of water in a very productive little hole.

Every time I fished the creek I'd knock out a section of the dam and when I'd come back, it was fixed and the cycle would continue. Until one day when I saw a canoe down by the water which is beyond bloody ridiculous on this stream.

So I put down my rod and made it's my life's work that day to obliterate the dam rock by rock.

I'm happy to report it's been gone for at least 15+ years so I guess me, the creek and the fish won...

 

[afishinado]

Demolition is ALWAYS in my playbook...

Mainly because I like to leave things as I found them (you know, the footprints thing) and like to find things as if I was the first person to come across them, as impossible as that is in today's world...

For that reason I hate rock cairns as much as spray paint, worm containers, Y-sticks left in the bank, fire rings or remnants of fires, forts, homemade rock dams and other man-made bull$#!+ in the woods or along streams, lakes, ponds, etc.

Don't leave it behind and tell me it's for someone else to use or admire, get your rocks off (pardon the pun), take a few pics and clean up your F'n mess before you leave...!!

In regards to dams...

There was one dam in particular I came across on a well known Class A that runs though publicly owned property that ran behind some homes whose property DID NOT include the creek. The dam was about 2+feet high and was holding back a lot of water in a very productive little hole.

Every time I fished the creek I'd knock out a section of the dam and when I'd come back, it was fixed and the cycle would continue. Until one day when I saw a canoe down by the water which is beyond bloody ridiculous on this stream.

So I put down my rod and made it's my life's work that day to obliterate the dam rock by rock.

I'm happy to report it's been gone for at least 15+ years so I guess me, the creek and the fish won...

Yup.....just leave behind footprints.

 

[poopdeck]

A dam is one thing but a small stack of rocks should not bother anybody. I won’t waste any thought or effort on them. Now I may use them for rocking skipping target practice but I’m not kicking them over just for the sake of kicking them over.

 

[hooker-of-men]

Leave no trace except, of course, for the brown trout that we like so that trace is OK.

 

[Solitariolupo]

You know what they say you never step foot in the same creek twice. Or something like that. Agree with others go take some bottom rocks out and let the water take care of the rest. If it bothers you.

 

[Roofin' Trouter]

Kids make dams for swimming holes. Maybe the best way to get it to stop would be with knowledge. I wouldn't call PGC or PAFBC but that is just me. The season for swimming is over so the chances of catching the vandals is slim to none. So if you call now there is an officer of an understaffed agency investigating an incident that has almost no chance of being solved. The deputy program was cancelled a few weeks ago so they're probably very busy.
Many say tear the dam out yourself and that is an understandable opinion too. But if cricks are supposed to meander wouldn't tearing the dam out in the middle excite farther straightening? You're kind of dammed if you do,dammed if you dont.
I share the frustration about dams at swimming holes. May 2025 I encountered a large group of Amish boys maybe ten to 15 year olds building a dam to deepen a pool enough to swim. I tried explaining to them why it was wrong to destroy nature miles back on the ANF but got frustrated. I asked myself would it be better if those boys were home playing video games. Better for who?
Sorry I'm not much help on this. Maybe make a YouTube video but if you want to reach Amish kids try Instagram.

I had a conversation with a USGS employee about rock dams within the past few years. He said that out West, they're learning many rock dams built in a well thought out manner can be a good thing for cricks.Hydrology is fascinating science and it wouldn't surprise me to learn we do more harm by tearing out the rock dams.
How high can brown trout jump? Probably high enough to clear any rock dam I've seen when flows are decent.