I started documenting the Blackberry Creek Dam Removal process beginning in March of 2012. Conversations regarding its removal began almost a year earlier when the bridge abutment attached to one end of the dam began falling apart and the bridge was closed to all traffic.
Since the work on the dam removal began in earnest the first week of January 2013, I try to go there once a week to document the progress being made. I thought I would give these progress reports their own page so the dam removal geeks out there can follow along. I’ve been supplying a link every week to past progress reports, but now they are in chronological order. The OCD part of my brain won’t have it any other way.
The dam should be gone some time in March 2013. Water should once again be flowing through the creek unimpeded for the first time in 175 years. Hopefully fish will be running up the creek unimpeded for the first time in 175 years. Once the dam is gone, these progress reports won’t stop. For the next few years I’ll be documenting not only how the former dam area and the new creek channel looks, but also whether or not the fish are utilizing the creek. I could stand there and observe the fish or I can go fish for them. Probably both, but more of the latter.
What will be interesting to me is how far the fish will migrate upstream. I’ve already explored and fished areas on Blackberry Creek up to 20 miles inland. My primary pursuit of course will be smallmouth bass, but there are a wide variety of suckers and minnow species indicative of a good quality creek. I’ll be keeping my eye out for those too.
So, without further ado, let’s start from the beginning.
Posted March 11, 2012:
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal
Posted March 13, 2012:
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal — Day One
Posted March 24, 2012:
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Progress — March 24, 2012
Posted March 29, 2012:
Info Meeting on the Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Project
Posted August 3, 2012.
I decided to show the ones that even show no progress. That’s part of the process, I guess:
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update
Posted January 3, 2013.
From March to August and finally in January 2013 the work began. It took awhile:
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update Better Late than Never
Posted January 5, 2013:
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update, Moving Right Along
Posted January 14, 2013:
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update, So That’s What all the Noise Was
Posted January 20, 2013:
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update, Mostly Done With One Section
Posted January 26, 2013:
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update, Brief Interlude
Posted January 30, 2013:
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update, After the Rain
Posted February 3, 2013:
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update, Rain, Ice, Snow Stops Everything
Posted February 9, 2013:
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update, Surprised at What they Got Done
Posted February 16, 2013:
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update, How About Pictures of Fish Instead
Posted February 24, 2013:
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update, Prep Work and Still More Prep Work
Posted March 3, 2013:
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update, Lots of Work, Lots of Pictures, Lots of Goldfish
Posted March 10, 2013
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update, What’s a Little Snow when There’s Work to be Done
Posted March 14, 2013
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update, This Can’t be Good
Posted March 16, 2013
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update, This Can’t be Good – Addendum
Posted March 24, 2013
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update, Maybe an April Completion
Posted March 31, 2013
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update, This is Exciting, Isn’t It?
Posted Arpril 7, 2013
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update, Kiss That Dam Goodbye
Posted April 8, 2013
I almost forgot that posting fishing reports from Blackberry Creek are as important as documenting the dam removal process. One of the main points of removing useless dams it to reestablish upstream fish migrations. Or, in my case, upstream fishing migrations.
It Only Seems Appropriate
Posted April 15, 2013
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update, Dam Free and a Fishing Report
Posted April 18, 2013
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update, Dam Free Finally and Work to be Done
Posted April 21, 2013
This one announces the opening of the NEW unofficial Blackberry Creek Whitewater Park. Series of photos showing different stages of the creek leading up to the recent flood.
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update, the NEW Yorkville Whitewater Park
Posted April 28, 2013
A fishing report focusing on Blackberry Creek. As I’ve said, these are as important as the dam removal itself. Fish migration and all that stuff.
I Caught a few Fish
Posted May 5, 2013
The fish are liking the new Blackberry Creek
Three Days and a Few Hours of Fishing
Posted May 12, 2013
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update, So, What’s the Point?
Posted May 25, 2013
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update, Fishing Test 1-2-3
Posted May 25, 2013
The Real Blackberry Creek
Posted on June 2, 2013
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update, Fishing Test 4-5-6
Posted on June 7, 2013
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update, Successful Spawn
Posted on July 14, 2013
Yes, this is Blackberry Creek.
Church of the Holy Fish
Posted on July 14, 2013
I Call them Death Marches for a Reason
Posted on August 14, 2013
My fishing of the creek died down, but I guess even a fishing report out of Blackberry Creek can qualify as part of the Dam Removal process.
A Short Sunset Cruise
Posted on October 7, 2013
The first half is about Blackberry Creek. They did a little bit of fixing up to the area.
It was Convenient
Posted on December 29, 2013
The last of the Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Updates, though I might be convinced to do once-a-year updates.
Blackberry Creek Dam Removal Update, Wrap it Up