Saucon Creek

[Joe D]

September 17, 2009

Contact: Ryan Walt, Regional Outreach & Education Coordinator
717.626.9081 or rwalt@state.pa.us

Saucon Park Dam Removal

Elm, PA – It has been several years in the making but a dam on Saucon Creek in Northampton County is set to be removed. Work on the Saucon Park Dam located in Hellertown, may begin as early as this week. The dam which is located on Saucon Creek is a tributary of the Lehigh River.

The funding for this project came from two grants that were received. The 1st from American Rivers through their NOAA Community-Based Restoration Program Partnership Grant in the amount of $25,000. The 2nd is from DEP’s Growing Greener Funding in the amount of $64,000.

The dam is owned by the City of Bethlehem and is being removed to avoid liability and maintenance issues due to flooding. Project partners include the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, URS Corporation, Urban Research and Development Corporation, Northampton County Sportsmen’s Clubs, Northampton County Conservation District, and Wildlands Conservancy.

In addition to the dam removal, there will be 800 plus feet of stream bank stabilization work completed using devices such as a J-hook rock vane and rootwads.

 

[trico mike]

I'am glad to see the dam is coming down. They have been talking about it for awhile now. Only wish the work would have been done earlier in the season and not so close to pre spawn. The bank stabalization should help the river greatly and any were they put structure will hold fish. That river is truly amazing with the amount and size of fish it has. After the dam is removed the next removal project should be the people ( and I use that term loosley) that flock to the park in the summer.

 

[onemorecast]

After the dam is removed the next removal project should be the people ( and I use that term loosley) that flock to the park in the summer.

If they can't remove the people, I'd settle for the ice cream truck.

 

[Ryan R]

I'am glad to see the dam is coming down. They have been talking about it for awhile now. Only wish the work would have been done earlier in the season and not so close to pre spawn. The bank stabalization should help the river greatly and any were they put structure will hold fish. That river is truly amazing with the amount and size of fish it has. After the dam is removed the next removal project should be the people ( and I use that term loosley) that flock to the park in the summer.

Good point Mike but removals of that size don't seem to take more than a few days, that's likely more than a good month before the majority of spawning takes place on limestoners in the Southeast (believe it or not it's usually November, early December.) There may be a few trout on redds by mid-October but not many, according to the PFBC biologists we spoke to regarding planning our redd survey for Bushkill Creek mid-November into early December is likely peak spawning on our region's limestone streams(and that's what we seemed to find when we did our surveys last year.) It may begin this week but they could also wait until spring I suppose, depending upon the permit limits. At any rate it shoould really help improve some impacted areas in that stretch, especially regarding available spawning habitat for the future.

For some reason, I don't have a problem with the area residents using a park they pay for, although there are some degenerates that frequent it but the police seem to patrol fairly well from what I've seen.

 

[Ryan R]

Just got word that the removal project went very well. I think the bank restoration work (plantings, stabilization) will take place now this fall and some more in the spring but the dam is now out.

 

[ajfromnj]

I was there the day that it started. They are going to divert the flow that goes through the side channel back in the main stream. They are also going to build back the banks above the dan to combat the erosion that has taken place. The person in charge said that he has almost five feet of stream drop to work with. So he said that the changes will be very good and improve habitat in that section. He also said that the fish should repopulate that area and will raise the fiah count. If any of you guys go there he should be there to speak to. He was very good answering questions and in surprisingly good detail.

 

[trico mike]

The funny thing is there is already a ton of fish in that stretch with the improvements the fishing will only get better. Can't wait to see what happens after the river finds it's new course and settles in.

 

[Ryan R]

The funny thing is there is already a ton of fish in that stretch with the improvements the fishing will only get better. Can't wait to see what happens after the river finds it's new course and settles in.

Exactly, and now there could be additional spawning habitat uncovered as well as more good riffles exposed for aquatic insect life, etc.