Before & After

In mid-September this dam was removed from the Conewango River which runs through town and joins the Allegheny River about 200 yards downstream. It had been there for at least 90 years-maybe Civil War era-but supposedly (according to the Feds) was deteriorating to the point of endangering... fishermen? or whomever...so for a bid of some $100,000 it was demolished and hauled away in dump trucks. The process involved an air hammer and the dropping of a 1 1/2 ton wrecking ball, which gradually broke it into pieces which could be lifted into the trucks. Watching the work from the bridge it seemed like slow going, and the contractor confirmed that the concrete was extremely tough having cured in the water for a hundred years. No doubt it posed No threat to anyone in hindsight, but so goes government explanations. In truth it was just part of a program that endeavors to remove many low head dams and return American waterways to a more natural flow. Before work began there was a minor amount of local protest-nostalgia-to keep it, but not much, and afterward the department of fish and game relocated about 7,000 mussels-including one endangered species- upstream to slower moving water. So now the Allegheny river fish will have easier migration upstream, and the Conewango, which is already an excellent bass river, will likely be improved. As for the physical changes to the current, they too were minor and the overall depth a mile upstream remained the same.
POSTSCRIPT:4/9/10 -At least one homeowner upstream has noticed his land being eroded and a retaining wall collapsing into the river as a result of the dam removal. Subsequently his house foundation is experiencing stress and may eventually be structurally damaged. So far he has received no help from the state in correcting the problem, for reasons of there being no 'official' policy to address such things and the usual political feet dragging. It does sound, however, and though financial help will be approved-hopefully before the situation deteriorates.

The Hike From Hell

Took the worst hike I've had in at least a decade this morning...foolish of me not to expect today's 2 inch snowfall (October 16th??!!) to bend the saplings all the way to the ground and make some trails next to impassible... but of course after two miles it was too late to turn back, and around here there is no bush wacking off the trail because one gets lost too easily in the thousands of acres of wooded mountains. So I slogged on as the snow fell off the still fully leaved branches and thoroughly soaked me, all the while stepping into mud bogs to my boot tops because the ground rarely dries in Warren due to all the rain. I eventually came to a jeep road-normally wide enough for two vehicles-which also had trees bent double across it in places. I must admit that my sympathy for their plight mixed with curses at the difficulty they made walking. But so goes winter in Warren...Five plus months of mostly crap for an outdoor loving walker like me. I am accustomed to the more favorable temperatures and precipitation further east near Philadelphia and New York-where the sun actually shines for more than a day or two... methinks I will Never wholly acclimate to this... The future plan-after my mother dies and when full retirement kicks in- is to spend two or three months each winter in a warmer climate, but that time is not here yet so I simply have to suck it up and find the good. I've actually considered taking up bowling on cold January days...?? In the meantime Beth and I will be flying to Florida for a week or two in February, which will be something to look forward to and break up the dreary skies...because I am normally quite optimistic, I am embarrassed to sound so depressing, but weather wise Warren truly is the Seattle of the east to me, only colder.