Dam coming down

[lycoflyfisher]

True about the Klamath, Elwha and other western dams .

The old dams here were mostly small electrical power or mill water power generation and recreational impoundment, right?

I'm all for removal of out of date and disused dams and buildings. But, one of the drawbacks for some removals is the impact on real estate.

In Oregon, an old, old, dam created an impoundment that eventually had communities of lakeside homes and cabins. When the dam was breached and the river returned to its natural channel, suddenly those homeowners had large stinking mud flats in front of them and lost massive property value. I don't think that will happen here, but I'm not sure many will be ready for the sudden changes removal sometimes brings.

To play devils advocate what about the loss of functioning farms and real estate that were loss for the construction of flood control dams?

Some dams surely have economic and recreational benefits.

This idea that dam removals always lead to stinky mudflats is almost entirely false. Sure, maybe there is exposed sediment for a short period of time. But most dam removal sites result in lush riparian and wetland habitats along the restored water course in a short period of time.

While lakes densely surrounded with houses and vacation homes probably arent targeted for removal, maintaining earthen dams is expensive and they have a life span. The cost of repairs may not be feasible for some communities. Below is a current example

Judge: Fate of Lake Wynonah in hands of community board

A Lake Wynonah property owner asked the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board for help Monday afternoon to halt a full drawdown of the community’s 175-acre reservoir to repair the dam. The EHB judge essentially said that his hands…

www.republicanherald.com

 

[6xAdams(Jones)]

Hokayyyy,? Don't see how this ties in with dam removal... and I do remember reading @vern 's post.

Just kidding.

 

[troutbert]

This idea that dam removals always lead to stinky mudflats is almost entirely false. Sure, maybe there is exposed sediment for a short period of time. But most dam removal sites result in lush riparian and wetland habitats along the restored water course in a short period of time.

In a very short period of time. The mudflats are well vegetated within one growing season. Even if you plant nothing.

A house near a lake is nice. A house near a river is nice, too.

 

[TimMurphy]

True about the Klamath, Elwha and other western dams .

The old dams here were mostly small electrical power or mill water power generation and recreational impoundment, right?

I'm all for removal of out of date and disused dams and buildings. But, one of the drawbacks for some removals is the impact on real estate.

In Oregon, an old, old, dam created an impoundment that eventually had communities of lakeside homes and cabins. When the dam was breached and the river returned to its natural channel, suddenly those homeowners had large stinking mud flats in front of them and lost massive property value. I don't think that will happen here, but I'm not sure many will be ready for the sudden changes removal sometimes brings.

Dear WR,

What you mention about real estate may be what's holding up the demolition of the Hulmeville Dam. There is a private boat club upstream of the dam. Likewise, the one in Oakford backs water up to Bridgetown Pike and creates a long flat pool in the backyards of homes along the Neshaminy Creek. When I was a kid, we used to launch a canoe at Bridgetown Pike and float down to the dam and paddle back up. The people who lived along the creek didn't care. Lots of people floated it, but in today's world I don't know how people along the creek would take that.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[Oregon_OwlII]

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 🙂

I concur. I also grew up in the area and often fished below the Hulmeville Dam. Above the dam was a long dead water zone. The bottom was 12-20 inches of muck, and no fish to be found. After I moved away, my brother told me he caught a 12 inch striper at the base of the Hulmeville Dam, which led me to believe that some type of a striper run might be possible on that stream, but the other two dams need to go. With respect to boat clubs and backwater properties, unless they own the dam, the decision to remove rests with the dam owner. Orphan dams can be removed by the state, I believe. The water company might own the Oakford Dam.