Two major backountry dams in Adirondacks have failed
NCPR has learned that two major dams in the Adirondack backcountry have failed, following tropical storm Irene.
Neil Woodworth at the Adirondack Mountain Club and David Winchell, NYSDEC, confirmed that the Duck Hole dam has lost roughly a third of its span and the pond there has been largely dewatered.
The Marcy Dam structure also appears to have failed, though the entire wooden span still appears to be in place. It’s unclear how the pond there is draining, but much of the water has now escaped leaving muddy piles of sediment.
Both ponds have long been popular traditional destinations for hikers exploring the Adirondacks. No word yet on what efforts might be made to restore the structures.
The High Peaks, Giant, and Dix Wilderness areas remain closed. Read Phil Brown’s blog post about hiking in to Duck Hole here.
Tomorrow during the 8 O’clock Hour, NCPR will report on the widespread devastation in the Adirondack backcountry.
Tags: irene
Can NCPR give us a list of local businesses that could benefit from purchases of local products, in order to increase cash flow and help speed recovery?
It is not enough simply to contribute to disaster relief agencies, but to also purchase local products, such as maple syrup, to enable local communities recover from their damage.
I wonder if man-made will be allowed to be repaired in the Wilderness.
The Adirondack State Land Master Plan does allow these dams in this Wilderness Area. Whether or not that is a good idea or if there is money for that will be the debate.
I believe that the Duck Hole dam will not be repaired, and over time it will become a meadow.
It’s less clear about Marcy Dam, but I’ve read that the bridge over the dam will be repaired, as it helps concentrate hikers in the area.
What are we planning on doing some logging or setting up a mill back there? These dams served their purpose, now they are just an unnecessary expense. Removal of these won’t stop hikers from going into those areas. At the Marcy site you could have a smaller and easier to maintain bridge without a dam.
These dams are actually ‘non-confroming uses’ in wilderness and should not (and actually if anybody cares to follows the law) cannot be repaired. But often politics trumps the actual law as when the Colden Ranger cabin was rebuilt. Let it go! DEC has no money to maintain such amenities anyway
Yeah.
I think though it shows how bad this was that we lost Marcy Dam if that is indeed the case. I would not really be in favor of rebuilding the dam as long as you could still get across the area.
Is the trail still closed?