Taylor Harris
Skinner Creek Dam Removal Proposal
Old Skinner Reservoir Removal Executive Summary
This is a proposal to the 2013 round of the Growing Greener Watershed Protection for the
removal of the Skinner Creek Dam called Old Skinner Reservoir located in State Game lands 61,
Mckean County, Pennsylvania. The purpose for this dam removal is to continue efforts to
increase free-flowing watershed restorations throughout the state. The Skinner Creek Watershed
Association has assembled a team for this task led by myself with collaboration from The
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Division of Dam Safety, the
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, American Rivers, Trout Unlimited, and Pennsylvania
Environmental Council. For this project, the Bureau of Waterways Engineering firm has been
selected due to their stellar history of dam removal. Currently, the Old Skinner Reservoir poses
numerous environmental issues that are addressed below.
Detailed Project Description
March 28th, 2013
Statement of Environmental Need - The Old Skinner Reservoir poses both water quality risks
as well as ecological issues in an impaired watershed (Susquehanna River Basin).
•
Old Skinner Reservoir currently impounds water upstream and creates a backwater
condition in the area upstream of the dam. These conditions create a localized siltation
problem, and interfere with natural sediment transport processes. Water quality risks
associated with this particular condition include: trapped sedimentation upstream of the
dam, eutrophication due to build up of nitrogen and phosphate, algal blooms, oxygen
depletion, increased water temperatures, and decreased flood control. Removal of the
dam will restore free-flowing conditions, improve habitat conditions, directly
address non-point source pollution by eliminating a hydrologic modification, and
encourage the natural movement and processing of sediment and nutrients.
•
Historically, Inland burbot, Eastern brook trout, American Shad, Hickory Shad, and
American Eel, etc. entered Skinner Creek, but the dam now blocks their
passage(PAFBC). Removal of the Old Skinner Reservoir will reconnect miles of
necessary migration paths. Dam removal will contribute to the expansion of the
spawning grounds for these species and allow for the upstream/downstream
movement of resident fishes as well.
•
Removal of the Old Skinner Reservoir will eliminate a safety hazard and liability
concern for its owner. Dam removal will also eliminate chance of catastrophic dam
Taylor Harris
Skinner Creek Dam Removal Proposal
failure or necessity for future repairs, thus providing immense economic relief to the
damns owner, Port Allegany Borough.
Project Context– This project accomplishes the goals of numerous state and federal agencies.
Goals of The National Fish Habitat Action Plan will be satisfied through increased fish habitats
and enhancements to important habitat areas. The DEP’s Non-point Source Management
Program identifies dam removal as an appropriate action plan to address non-point pollution as a
result of hydromodification. This dam removal will count towards Chesapeake 2000
Agreement’s proposed 100 dam removals in the Susquehanna and Potomac drainage basins. In
addition to the previously listed goals this dam removal will help accomplish, it also coincides
with efforts to increase Pennsylvania anadromous fish numbers in local freshwater streams.
Proposed Scope of Work –The primary objective of this project is to remove Old Skinner
Reservoir and restore the former impoundment. The current damn’s dimensions are 4 ft high and
60 ft wide. In addition to the removal of the concrete dam, we are requesting funding for the
excavation and removal of the impounded legacy sediment, bank grading and stabilization,
riparian buffer repair, and construction oversight. This project’s anticipated start date is set for
August 2013 to avoid the Shad and Brooke trout migrations. The project will take between 4-6
weeks from start to finish. Actual dam and legacy sediment removal will take no longer than 1
week to reduce stream disturbances as much as possible. The legacy sediment will be transported
to various farms in the area because elevated phosphorus levels makes it a desirable fertilizer.
Stream bank Stabilization efforts will be implemented to slow the rate of water flow which will
subsequently reduce the amount of sedimentation caused by stream channelization. Because
Skinner Creek has a relatively slow flow to begin with, these efforts do not need to be intensive.
By adding artificial pools, rocks, and logs to absorb the water-flow’s energy, we believe no
further bank stabilization management practices will need to be implemented. This work is
expected to last an additional week.
To further address sedimentation and flood controls, riparian buffer repairs will be made. A
current lack of forested buffer has led our team to conclude that planting a small area of
herbaceous vegetation over sandy soil graded smoothly 50 feet from the newly stabilized bank
will significantly reduce any flood or erosion concerns. In the growing season that follows
completion of this riparian buffer repair, significant wetland plant emergence and hydrologic
connectivity will naturally occur between the stream bank and riparian buffer (Kaye). In total,
over 75 feet of wetland and riparian habitat will be added to each bank of Skinner Creek. This
phase of the dam removal project is expected to require the last 2-4 weeks of the estimated time
for project completion. After project completion, efforts to reduce invasive species on-site will
be implemented by an Ecosystem Manager appointed from the DEP.
Taylor Harris
Skinner Creek Dam Removal Proposal
41.787404
078.319916
Works Cited
Taylor Harris
Skinner Creek Dam Removal Proposal
"Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Home Page." Pennsylvania Fish and Boat
Commission Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2013.
“Dam removal and Restoration” powerpoint,Dr. Jason Kaye. 25 Mar. 2013.
"Small Dam Removal in PA." Http://pawatersheds.org/wpcontent/uploads/2009/04/damremoval.pdf. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2013.