Dam coming down

[[WR]]

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.

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

 

[lycoflyfisher]

From google ai

Pennsylvania leads the United States in total dam removals, having torn down more than 430 obsolete barriers since 1912, according to data from American Rivers and the List of dam removals in Pennsylvania.

Dam removal is not a rarety in PA

 

[[WR]]

It's for sure not widely publicized, either.

 

[TimMurphy]

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.

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

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 🙂

 

[Mike]

It's for sure not widely publicized, either.

“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.

 

[lars]

i think that's the dam where the Park Ranger drowned last year in Tyler Park when his kayak capsized.

 

[wildtrout2]

It's for sure not widely publicized, either.

I'd say it is, since I read about it on the internet. 😉

 

[troutbert]

“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.

There was a lot of coverage here in Centre County about the removal of McCoy Dam on Spring Creek.

 

[lycoflyfisher]

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

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.

 

[tomgamber]

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. 🙄

 

[JeffP]

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.

 

[Mike]

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

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.

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.”

 

[troutbert]

From google ai

Pennsylvania leads the United States in total dam removals, having torn down more than 430 obsolete barriers since 1912, according to data from American Rivers and the List of dam removals in Pennsylvania.

Dam removal is not a rarety in PA

There have been 4 dams removed on Spring Creek alone.

 

[troutbert]

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

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.

The dam removal movement began where dams were blocking salmon runs.

Then spread to where dams were blocking kayak runs.

 

[TimMurphy]

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.”

Dear Mike,

What is the plan for all the coal silt in Kernsville? I know they dredge it from time to time. but I imagine there is still a lot of crud left on the stream bottom.

I guess that opening up a stretch of stream to allow passage and migration of fish over a longer section of water has advantages. At least the fish would be able to seek out better habitat and refuge areas instead of being confined to one section of water.

I'd like to see what the Susquehanna looks like after the removal of Oakland Dam. I lived on the river in Windsor NY for a number of years. I used to be able to run by jet jon boat from the Oakland Acess on Rte. 92 right up behind my house, even in typical summer flows. It was probably a 6- or 7-mile run. I wonder if that is even possible anymore since the Oakland dam is gone?

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[tomgamber]

The dam removal movement began where dams were blocking salmon runs.

Then spread to where dams were blocking kayak runs.

Did a lot of news stories on salmon and dams on the Snake and Colombia rivers back in my news days. Was there when the last single original strain sockeye returned to Lake Redfish in Stanley for the last time. The price of electricity was really nice though.