90 Dams Removed in 2019 to Restore Rivers
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90 Dams Removed in 2019 to Restore Rivers American Rivers releases annual list including dams in Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin for a total of 26 states. Nationwide, 1,722 dams have been removed from 1912 through 2019. Dam removal brings a variety of benefits to local communities, including restoring river health and clean water, revitalizing fish and wildlife, improving public safety and recreation, and enhancing local economies. Working in a variety of functions with partner organizations throughout the country, American Rivers contributed financial and technical support in many of the removals. Contact information is provided for dam removals, if available. For further information about the list, please contact Jessie Thomas-Blate, American Rivers, Director of River Restoration at 202.347.7550 or [email protected]. This list includes all dam removals reported to American Rivers (as of February 6, 2020) that occurred in 2019, regardless of the level of American Rivers’ involvement. Inclusion on this list does not indicate endorsement by American Rivers. Dams are categorized alphabetically by state. Howle and Turner Dam, Tallapoosa River, Alabama The removal of Howle and Turner Dam was in the works for over four years. This project was the result of a great partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife program and the Alabama Rivers and Streams Network. The Service coordinated the pre-restoration planning and worked with their Fisheries and Aquatic Conservation Aquatic Habitat Restoration Team to carry out the demolition and restoration of the river channel. The 16-foot high by 100-foot wide concrete and steel dam was located on the Tallapoosa River, one of Alabama’s major rivers. The dam was originally built in 1935 to power a grist mill and cotton gin, but outlived its original purpose. The dam held historical significance to the locals of east Alabama, as it was a rural center of commerce for over half a century. In June 2019, Howle and Turner was removed to improve water quality and create habitat for rare mussel species such as fine-lined pocketbook and delicate spike. Contact: Eric Spadgenske, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 251-441-5872, [email protected] Livingston Dam, Sucarnoochee River, Alabama Built in 1979 to contribute to the water supply, Livingston Dam was deconstructed in April 2019 to restore the Sucarnoochee River and its tributaries as it no longer served its purpose. Cleveland National Forest Dam Removals (SJFD12, SJFD13, SJFD14, SJFD15, SJFD17, SJFD18, SJFD19, SJFD20, SJFD21, SJFD22, SJFD23, SJFD24, SJFD25, SJFD26, SJFD27, HJFD3, HJFD4, HFD5, SCFD4, SCFD5), San Juan Creek, Holy Jim Creek and Silverado Creek, California In 2019, the Cleveland National Forest (CNF) removed a total of 20 dams from three different creeks, ranging from 2 to 13 feet tall by 2 to 69 feet long. The dams are part of a larger project led by CNF to enhance aquatic organism passage by removing approximately 81 dams upon completion, called the Trabuco District Dam Removal Project. The project can be credited for California’s recent increase in yearly dam removals and will hopefully pave the way for other dam removal projects. Every year, the quality of habitat, safety, and natural stream processes along the creeks improve exponentially. The project specifically benefits the locally extinct southern California steelhead trout, as the suitable habitat supports the potential for re-introduction and re-establishment. Each dam removed reduces the risk of injury associated with recreational use along the creeks. Contact: Kristen Winter, Cleveland National Forest, 858-674-2956, [email protected] Blog Post: https://www.americanrivers.org/2019/09/a-programmatic-approach-to-dam-removal-and- river-restoration-cleveland-national-forest-ca/ Iron Horse Dam, Green Valley Creek, California Funded by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Fisheries Restoration Grants Program, this 10- foot high by 20-foot long grouted rock dam was removed in September 2019 to provide unimpeded access to Coho salmon at all ranges of flows throughout Green Valley and Atascadero Creeks. Contact: Jason Hoorn, Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District, 707-823-5244, [email protected] Maria Ygnacio Debris Basin Dam Main Branch and East Branch, Maria Ygnacio Creek, California These dams, both around 20-foot high by 120-foot long, were built in 1990 as debris retention basins. The Main Branch Dam removal involved the complete removal of a grouted rock debris dam and grouted rock inlet structure to restore steelhead passage and sediment transport. The East Branch Dam had become completely dammed and diverted into a constructed debris basin in response to a fire, and in its removal was rerouted into its historical creek channel to restore fish passage and sediment transport. Contact: Seth Shank, Santa Barbara County Flood Control District, 805-568-3443, [email protected] Cucharas #5 Dam, Cucharas River, Colorado Originally built in 1913 for irrigation, Cucharas #5 Dam was removed in January 2019 for safety reasons. Tallest on the 2019 dam removal list, Cucharas #5 stood 135 feet tall and 530 feet wide. Contact: Bill McCormick, CO Division of Water Resources, 719-338-6124, [email protected] Hidden Treasure Dam, Henson Creek, Colorado Hidden Treasure Dam was originally built in the 1890s to provide hydropower to Ute-Ulay mine. The historical dam is one of the last remnants of the mining communities associated with the Hidden Treasure, Hard Tack, and Ute-Ulay mines, which operated between 1890 and the 1930s. The stone dam first broke in 1973, causing the deaths of hundreds of fish 14 miles downstream due to the release of toxic metals and chemicals. Before its removal, the community of Hinsdale County were concerned that its small opening and sturdy structure made it susceptible to debris blockages and collapse, which would send a surge of water and debris into Lake City. The dam was removed in 2019 to mitigate these flood and pollution risks following a declaration of emergency for Hinsdale County from the Colorado Governor Jared Polis. To preserve the historical value of Hidden Treasure Dam while still sufficiently mitigating risks, it was lowered by 30 feet using a robotic jackhammer and the opening at the bottom was widened with explosives. A grant from Natural Resources Conservation Service Emergency Watershed Protection funded the majority of the project, which carried a hefty price. Contact: Eric Spadgenske, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 251-441-5872, [email protected] Old Papermill Pond Dam, East Aspetuck, Connecticut The Nature Conservancy Connecticut led this project with funding assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Natural Resource Damage Assessment Housatonic funds. This 10-foot high by 100- foot long concrete dam was constructed around the 1880s to power a mill. Its removal reduced the accumulation of sand and improved brook trout habitat and passage while still preserving its recreational activities such as fishing and fishing derbies. Contact: Sally Harold, formerly with The Nature Conservancy Connecticut Post Office Dam, Beaver Brook, Connecticut Post Office Dam (9 feet tall) was also removed by The Nature Conservancy Connecticut. The small stone dam was removed using a grip hoist with no further cost, engineering or construction. This project is expected to provide passage for anadromous fish, mitigate flood risks, and relieve the town of a burden. The removal of Post Office Dam was part of a larger project to remove a second upstream dam. Contact: Sally Harold, formerly with The Nature Conservancy Connecticut Brandywine Dam, Brandywine Creek, Delaware This 115-year old Brandywine Dam was built to allow city water pipes to cross Brandywine Creek, and was removed to update the infrastructure to flexible iron pipes that will be buried beneath the creek bed. The removal of this 3-foot tall and 176-foot long concrete dam reconnected 3.5 miles of stream to give upstream access to migratory fish, such as the American shad. Contact: Bryan Lennon, Assistant Water Division Director City of Wilmington, 302-576-3075, [email protected] Atwell Pond Dam, Poplar Branch, Florida Owned by the Eglin Air Force Base, this earthen dam (12-foot tall by 365-foot long) was removed in January 2019 to improve habitat for the threatened Gulf sturgeon, as well as eliminate a potential hazard and liability. It was built in 1959 for fishing and recreation and its removal reconnected 0.9 miles of Poplar Branch. Contact: William Pizzolato, Jackson Guard, Eglin Air Force Base, 850-883-1190, [email protected] Metts Pond Dam, Holley Creek, Florida Metts Pond Dam, also owned by the Eglin Airforce Base, was removed in early 2019 to enhance habitat and reduce safety risk after the pond was abandoned when the area closed for military activity. Built in 1951, the removal of Metts Pond Dam (8-foot high by 75-foot long) opened 3.1 miles of Holley Creek. Contact: William Pizzolato, Jackson Guard, Eglin Air Force Base, 850-883-1190, [email protected] Athens Waterworks Dam, Unnamed tributary to Sandy Creek, Georgia Athens Waterworks Dam was removed in 2019 because it was out of compliance with Georgia Safe Dams Act. The owners, High Point Investors LLC, chose to remove the obsolete dam rather than rehabilitate. Contact: Brian Kimsey, Carter Engineering Consultants, 770-725-1200, [email protected] Opaeula 15 Reservoir Dam, Unnamed tributary of Opaeula Stream, Hawaii Opaeula 15 Reservoir Dam was a massive (21-foot tall, 2,200-foot long) earthen dam originally built in 1910 for irrigation and removed in May 2019 because it no longer served a purpose.