Work began this week on a project to remove the Millmont Dam on the Penns Creek near the village of Millmont in Union County. The work is being done by Lycoming Supply Inc. of Williamsport at a cost of $25,984.

The Millmont Dam is a low-head, or run-of-the-river, dam that spans the Penns Creek, blocking migration of fish an other aquatic organisms along this high quality trout stream.

Removal of the dam will open over nine miles of Penns Creek to fish passage, will restore of one mile of riparian habitat, and reduce the occurrence and severity of flooding on upstream properties.

The Department of Environmental Protection and the Fish and Boat Commission share regulatory authority over approximately 250 low-head dams in Pennsylvania. Thousands of low-head dams were built throughout the state to provide power to mills or to create impoundments for navigation.

In addition to affecting aquatic habitat, low-head dams have proven to be a danger to boaters and swimmers. A loose coalition of state and federal agencies, and environmental and sporting groups are working to remove dams that are unsafe or no longer needed,

The Millmont Dam will be the 11th low-head dam breached in Pennsylvania during 2006, and the sixth dam breached in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

6/9/2006