More On Wehr's Dam Removal Controversy

See: Rebels with a cause rally to save Wehr's Dam

Proponents who support removal of the Jordan Creek's Wehr Dam in South Whitehall Township argue that warmer less oxygenated water behind the dam is a determent to fish. They also argue it prevents fish from traveling freely upstream and down.

That may be a valid argument under normal weather conditions. However...August 02, 1999 - by ELIZABETH BARTOLAI (A free-lance story for The Morning Call)"Heather Zellers said there also was no water in the Jordan Creek at Covered Bridge Park near Wehr's Dam on Wednesday. It was there that anglers rescued fish trapped in small pools of water July 21.

Chris Kocher, director of the Wildlands Conservancy Rivers Program, said low-water conditions are high stress times for water ecosystems. Zellers said that as the water level drops, fish become trapped in small pools, then die when those pools eventually dry up.

A portion of the creek also is dry in North Whitehall Township near Cedar Crest Boulevard. Zellers said the creek flows over limestone in that area, and because the groundwater levels are low, the water is seeping into the ground. "It was dry in that section last summer also," Zellers said, adding that the Jordan usually doesn't dry up there until August."

September 11, 2001 - By RON DEVLIN Of The Morning Call" Wehr's Dam in South Whitehall Township is drying up. And the bed of Jordan Creek, which flows from the dam, is already parched and lined with dead fish."

Removal of this dam would serve to exasperate the problem fish already have when trying to survive under these conditions when they occur. If you will note in the first article it said, "..anglers rescued fish trapped in small pools of water." Let it be said crappy water is better then no water at all. At least fish stand a chance of being rescued.

According to a U.S. Geological Survey published in 1968 "Jordan Creek has been dry during part of the Summer or Fall in at least 15 of the last 32 years." The full U.S. Geological Survey pdf file can also be found HERE. Search for Jordan Creek. WARNING: The File Is Large

This is why I've stated time and again ya might get away with dam removals on other creeks and rivers, but not Wehr's dam on the Jordan Creek. It doesn't have near the consistent water flow of these others.

There's not a doubt in my mind by removing this dam, from time to time instead of picnickers enjoying the dam they will be looking over a dried creek bed along with the smell of rotting fish.

That is if fish can even exist in the creek if the dam should be removed.