Dam coming down

[WR] said:
We always hear a lot about the dams out west coming down. I think this one is a rarity here in the eastern u.s.

www.lehighvalleylive.com

Second-largest dam removal in Pennsylvania history about to begin at state park

The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission says removing the barrier will reconnect aquatic habitat and improve passage for fish and other wildlife.
www.lehighvalleylive.com www.lehighvalleylive.com
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Dear WR,

I grew up in the area. There are two much larger dams downstream at Hulmeville and Oakford that will need to be removed before this removal has the chance to do anything.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂
 
[WR] said:
It's for sure not widely publicized, either.
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“Widely” is perhaps the operative word. They are often publicized by the non-profit organizations involved and locally or regionally by newspapers and tv stations that serve the areas where the dam removals are occurring. Dam removals in metro areas in particular seem to get good coverage.
 
i think that's the dam where the Park Ranger drowned last year in Tyler Park when his kayak capsized.
 
Mike said:
“Widely” is perhaps the operative word. They are often publicized by the non-profit organizations involved and locally or regionally by newspapers and tv stations that serve the areas where the dam removals are occurring. Dam removals in metro areas in particular seem to get good coverage.
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There was a lot of coverage here in Centre County about the removal of McCoy Dam on Spring Creek.
 
www.fws.gov

The largest dam removal in Pennsylvania | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Susquehanna River, 1929. A new-and-improved Oakland Dam is a marvel of modern engineering, measuring more than 755 feet long and 16 feet high. The dam would provide power to a nearby railroad depot and hospital for the next 60 years. Around 1990, however, the dam became obsolete; its capacity to...
www.fws.gov www.fws.gov

This one was widely publicized. Sure, the projects here aren't massive like the klamath dam removal or the other Columbia River watershed dam removals in the pacific northwest that are targetting endangered, migratory salmonid benefits. However, there is plenty of good work happening and lots more to do.
 
I saw this posted somewhere else yesterday. the comments reflect many of the frustrations I see here from more informed and conservation/resource-minded fishermen. The majority of the comments suggested things like "waste of tax dollars", "will not make any difference" and complete lack of understanding why this is ever done. love anti-social media. 🙄
 
That is an impressive list. I'm surprised how many were on good trout streams. You would have to think they have saved a few degrees on a number of those streams. Although with global warming, maybe it hasn't. I hope it continues, but I wonder if in the current environment it's even possible. There are a couple on the Cocalico Creek I would love to see come down here in Lancaster County.
 
lycoflyfisher said:
www.fws.gov

The largest dam removal in Pennsylvania | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Susquehanna River, 1929. A new-and-improved Oakland Dam is a marvel of modern engineering, measuring more than 755 feet long and 16 feet high. The dam would provide power to a nearby railroad depot and hospital for the next 60 years. Around 1990, however, the dam became obsolete; its capacity to...
www.fws.gov www.fws.gov

This one was widely publicized. Sure, the projects here aren't massive like the klamath dam removal or the other Columbia River watershed dam removals in the pacific northwest that are targetting endangered, migratory salmonid benefits. However, there is plenty of good work happening and lots more to do.
Click to expand...
If the 4-6 year scheduled/stalled removal of 29 ft high, DEP owned New Kernsville Dam on the Schuylkill R , situated about a mile or so upstream from I-78 at Hamburg, comes to fruition, it may be at least the second biggest dam removal project in Pa, replacing the subject Tyler S.P. project in that second spot. I hadn’t seen the Oakland Dam on the Susquehanna since our electrofishing survey in that part of the “North Branch” in 1976, so I don’t recall if it was taller than New Kernsville Dam or not.

The other one that needs to go on the Schuylkill is DEP owned, 17 ft high Flat Rock Dam on the Schuylkill in Montgomery Co near the Philly border.

Tim is correct that there are two dams on the Neshaminy Ck downstream from the one at Tyler S.P.; however, if it is one thing that I learned about dam removals quite early in my career, it is of utmost importance to be opportunistic. That means that dams are not always or even usually removed in logical order in a downstream to upstream direction. Opportunity lost may prove to be a lost opportunity for decades…no exaggeration; it has happened…and lost opportunities need to be avoided in the “dam removal business.”
 
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lycoflyfisher said:
www.fws.gov

The largest dam removal in Pennsylvania | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Susquehanna River, 1929. A new-and-improved Oakland Dam is a marvel of modern engineering, measuring more than 755 feet long and 16 feet high. The dam would provide power to a nearby railroad depot and hospital for the next 60 years. Around 1990, however, the dam became obsolete; its capacity to...
www.fws.gov www.fws.gov

This one was widely publicized. Sure, the projects here aren't massive like the klamath dam removal or the other Columbia River watershed dam removals in the pacific northwest that are targetting endangered, migratory salmonid benefits. However, there is plenty of good work happening and lots more to do.
Click to expand...
The dam removal movement began where dams were blocking salmon runs.

Then spread to where dams were blocking kayak runs.
 
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