Facts About the IndianHead Dam
1. Ecology -
We know the dam is not natural - but man-made. Groups want us to
go back to the "natural" Perkiomen. Who really knows what it used to be
like. An eco-system has been established behind this dam. We have many
species of fish and migrating water fowl, including heron and egrets.
We also have sighted a Bald Eagle fishing here.
Endangered and Threatened Species native to this area:
Red-Bellied Turtle - Threatened
Pseudemys rubriventris
Great Egret - Threatened Casmerodius albus
Endangered and Threatened Species native to this area:
Red-Bellied Turtle - Threatened
Pseudemys rubriventris
Next to the snapping turtle and spiny softshell turtle, this is the largest of
Great Egret - Threatened Casmerodius albus
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagles are among the largest birds of prey. They may weigh up to 14 pounds and sport 7-foot wingspans. Bald eagles are most readily identified by their white heads and tails, however, they donā€™t attain this characteristic plumage until five years of age. Until that time they are dark brown with varying amounts of white mottling.
For other pictures of creatures native to this area, click here. Special Thanks to Rachael for the beautiful pics of the native creatures including the bald eagle.
2. Environmental -
IndianHead dam is the first dam downstream from a Super Fund Sight - Moyers Landfill. For years, who knows what ran in the Skippack Creek. The Skippack joins the Perkiomen about 200 yards upstream from the IndianHead dam. It is questionable as to whether the silt on the Perkiomen is contaminated with all sorts of carcinogenic chemicals and metals. If the dam is removed, this silt will wash down stream to the next dam, the Wetherwill dam. This dam is where the Philadelphia Suburban Water Company pulls it supply from.The mud (silt) level on the Lower Providence side has increased in the last 25 years. You can no longer feel the rocks on the bottom - you sink into at least a foot of mud. If the dam is breached, this "mud" will be exposed. It will be a public safety hazard to our children and also to animals who may get stuck in it. Every resident of the "Perky" knows the smell after a flood. We would have this smell every time we have a rain.
Erosion is another concern. If you look along the Perkiomen in Collegeville, where another dam was removed, you will see signs of the erosion caused by the flash flooding they now have instead of the gradual flooding before the removal.
Mosquito breeding grounds is another item to consider. With lower water level you are going to have many shallow - stagnant pools of water. The perfect place for mosquitoes to breed.
3. Recreational -
With a drop in the water level, fishing and boating as we know it now will be virtually impossible.Lower Providence Township has Hoy Park, which is open to the public. They realized this is a great area of recreation. The boat launch allows anyone to have access to the Perkiomen. If the water level drops, the launch will be on dry land. Most places on this section of Perkiomen will no longer be deep enough for any type of boating.
4. Special Facts from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) pertaining to the Benefits of Dams -
Today, dams are a vital part of the Nationā€™s infrastructure. Dams provide a range of economic, environmental, and social benefits, including hydroelectric power, river navigation, water supply, wildlife habitat, waste management, flood control, and recreation.- Flood control: Dams are a critical feature of the Nationā€™s ability to reduce the effects of flooding along river courses. Seven Oaks Dam has removed the most massive flooding problem west of the Mississippi River, eliminating a floodplain previously threatening more than 3 million people. The USACE constructed 8,500 miles of federal levees, and the amount of money saved each year from 1993-2002 from flood damage prevention averaged $22.8 billion. Mt. Morris Dam provides flood control to the city of Rochester, New York; since its completion in 1952, estimates are that more than $1 billion dollars in flood damages were avoided by the operation of this reservoir.
- Sediment/hazardous materials control: In many instances, dams provide enhanced environmental protection for a variety of cases, such as retention of hazardous materials and detrimental sedimentation. Dams on the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania have been instrumental in preventing large-scale pollution of the Chesapeake Bay from sediment. The Susquehanna River Basin encompasses about 64,000 square miles, and the River contributes about 50% of the fresh water supply to the Bay. The River also carries 3.1 million tons of sediment each year. Since 1928, over 70% of those sediments have been retained by the Holtwood, Safe Harbor, and Conowingo Dams. Thus, the states bordering the Bay have time to develop better sediment controls to protect the valuable resources of the Bay.
- Fisheries: Dams can enhance wetlands and support healthy fisheries. Wildlife preserves can be created around reservoirs, which in some cases provide stable habitats for endangered or threatened species.
- Recreation: Dams provide prime recreational facilities throughout the country. There were a total of 81 million recreation user days provided at Federal Energy Regulatory Commission-licensed hydropower projects alone in 1996. Ten percent of the U. S. population visits at least one USACE facility each year. Boating, skiing, camping, picnic areas and boat launch facilities are all supported by dams.