Watershed Academy: Team Maple River Fall 2015

How do we affect our watershed and how can we protect it?

Our Focus: Dam Removal

By Lake Kathleen.

Cammie Krueger

Cora Thompson

Elizabeth Eaton

Hunter Williamson

Katherine Moeller

Kira Kewaygeshik

Nattie Brisson

Summer VanAken

Shelby Ormsbee

Dam Removal

We think that until the dam is a safety concern that it should not be removed, we feel this due to the effects it would have on the watershed quality.

After removal of a dam there may be a lot of sediment floating around in the water. This extra sediment may damage spawning grounds. Contamination may pose a threat to areas downstream, and habitats where fish and other wildlife live.

The upside is that eventually this can be a temporary effect. The sediment transportation will return to normal

Dam Removal and Water When dams are removed it heavily affects the water quality, either the water will get very low or flood the banks, Either way has many negative affects. A lot of debris also can be carried down the stream. The negative effects outweigh the positive.

One factor that is effected while removing dams is connectivity, meaning water, fish, organisms and plants. Dams block off the migration of fish and other organisms, whether it be on purpose or accidental. If it is accidental, removing the dam after years will be harmful to the fish after they have adapted to the new environment. In the case of it being purposeful, the dam was there for a reason, and it should stay there to keep invasive species from migrating.

Another big thing that is affected by dam removal is the amount of debris that is left floating in the water. We took a trip to the Maple River branch in Pellston. When we walked up- and down-stream we were very surprised by the amount of dam pieces that were left in the water or on the banks. Some of the pieces had floated downriver and were in the water, or caught on branches. That debris can be carried to larger water bodies or could hurt animals or even people who are swimming in the river.

Connectivity Debris

Precautions that need to be taken when removing dams include debris and objects being left in the stream(wood, nails, garbage from workers.) So we believe until it is an absolute necessity the dam should not be removed. When they removed the culverts near pioneer park the water level changed drastically and the sand/ dirt was really mucky and brown. Some of the building material was disposed of improperly and just left things on the banks, along with plenty of garbage.(probably not from the workers.) So when it gets to the point where they need to remove the dam they should make sure all waste is disposed of properly and the watersheds health is in best interests,

Precautions

Maple River Team 2015