It has been over a year since the Simkins dam removal was announced and now the work has finally commenced. According to this story by Jennifer Broadwater in The Howard County Times, the project “has begun and workers are expected to begin tearing down the concrete dam Nov. 10, according to Serena McClain, director of American Rivers’ River Restoration Program.”
Earlier this year another old dam on the river was removed.
“The work, funded by $4 million in federal stimulus funds, began last year with the removal of the Union Dam, which was finished in September. Studies are under way for the removal of a third dam in the area, Bloede Dam, according to American Rivers.”
Bloede Dam is a taller order than the Union and Simkins dams, it’s much bigger.
Still, with Simkins Dam out of the way, kayakers and other river enthusiasts will be able to traverse the entire length of the river along HoCo’s northern border without having to maneuver around a dam.
The fish will be happier too.
“The dams lost their purpose years ago and instead became obstacles to the migration and spawning habits of fish and eel. They also harm water quality, environmentalists say.”
Dam!
