Fort Covington Dam removal may revive Salmon River fishery

Old-time fishermen tell stories about runs of muskie, pike, walleye and smallmouth bass on the Salmon River where the fish were so thick they'd be stacked on top of one another like cords of firewood.

[Whippleville Woodchuck]

Sounds good!

[james carley]

WW, does sound good especially if the dam now serves no purpose. why was it built in the first place is the question?

[Whippleville Woodchuck]

Not sure. Maybe for an old mill...but I didn't think it was that old.

[james carley]

hmmm interesting

[lorraine]

sounds sad to me its a land mark and not hurting anything,
use the money to fux up the town a bit ,

[rickinarizona]

The dam brings back memories of some great yellow-bellied bullhead fishing excursions my brothers and I took at night there. We would fish until the burlap bag was too heavy to drag back to the garage to where we would skin fish until the morning. But it is a good thing that "the dam" will be gone. It impeded the nature of the river, and should open up a variety of sportfishing opportunities. I look forward to fishing the new Salmon River when my boys and I visit my family in the "Fort" and Malone this summer!

[fort cov res]

it was built in 1908 as a hydro power dam that powered fort and bombay. it was closed up in the 1950s due to a dumb decision to let niagra mohawk power the village that would be "more cost effective"

[Still laughing]

I remember jumping off the dam when I was a kid. It's amazing I lived to adulthood.

[lena]

Yea use the money to fix up the town leave the dam be.

[Boo yea]

Ah....too late.

[who knows]

too bad to waste money on the dam what harm was it doing? when the town is going to ruins.
ohhhhh the park is beautiful and who goes there?
just a waste of money.on both projects.

[Dean]

who knows wrote:

too bad to waste money on the dam what harm was it doing? when the town is going to ruins.
ohhhhh the park is beautiful and who goes there?
just a waste of money.on both projects.

Not a red cent of town money has been spent on the dam removal. This dam was a safety hazard. It is a wonder no one was killed on the thing. It contributed to upstream flooding. It impeded fish passage to traditional spawning habitat. Once work is done, and nature heals the wound, we will have a natural free flowing river. The way God made it, and intended it. I have no problem with hydro-power, but if a dam is no longer functioning it needs to go. Second, the vast majority of the money spent on Rainbow Park came from fund raising, and most of the work was volunteer. That park is used by families every day. Even in winter you will find kids playing on the equipment. Did you prefer the run down and rotting structures that were there before, to modern up to date play equipment, basketball court, hockeyball surface, and a gazebo that hosts summer concerts, and birthday parties?
The town is going to ruins? What have you done lately about that problem? At least the folks who have been involved in these projects are working towards removing the blight you complain about. Next on the slate. Removing some of the abandoned crumbling buildings on Water Street. Again without costing the town a penny. I'll ask again, those who are whining, what have you done lately?

[evan]

great job by gw tatro emploees what do you think

[Depot Rat]

evan wrote:

great job by gw tatro emploees what do you think

What are you saying here? Don't know gw Tatro.

[susan]

Dean wrote:

<quoted text>
Not a red cent of town money has been spent on the dam removal. This dam was a safety hazard. It is a wonder no one was killed on the thing. It contributed to upstream flooding. It impeded fish passage to traditional spawning habitat. Once work is done, and nature heals the wound, we will have a natural free flowing river. The way God made it, and intended it. I have no problem with hydro-power, but if a dam is no longer functioning it needs to go. Second, the vast majority of the money spent on Rainbow Park came from fund raising, and most of the work was volunteer. That park is used by families every day. Even in winter you will find kids playing on the equipment. Did you prefer the run down and rotting structures that were there before, to modern up to date play equipment, basketball court, hockeyball surface, and a gazebo that hosts summer concerts, and birthday parties?
The town is going to ruins? What have you done lately about that problem? At least the folks who have been involved in these projects are working towards removing the blight you complain about. Next on the slate. Removing some of the abandoned crumbling buildings on Water Street. Again without costing the town a penny. I'll ask again, those who are whining, what have you done lately?

this is an ecological disaster. there is no more river its gone the fish are gone the beaver are gone and the boating is gone

[who knows]

if you lived in fort covington or passed thru lately you may change your mind .
a lovely park no one uses thousands of $ spent on it . then go thru town . buildings collapsing sidewalks arent fit to walk on but away goes the only only remembrance of fort covington when it was a neat little town,

[JIM Malone ny]

Just ask the Schraders how they like the dam removal. The river is blocked with sand. It could be two or three years before they can use there boat again.

[OLD FORT RESIDENT]

Hey expert Dean,I havn't heard you comment much since the sands came. Who is going to pay for the extra bill for rip wrapping the bridge.

[fort resident]

this has nothing to do with the dam but since the park was mentioned, my family and i frequent the park quite often, the equipment is great and much better than the malone rec park i think. the only problem i see is with vandalism and graphiti, its horrible. once my son learns to read he will get quite and education. we love the park hats off to the town of fort covington for it!!

[FORT RESIDENT]

I think the parents need to be with these kids at the park. There are to many unsupervised kids that I have seen my animals behave better. As far as the dam goes It is totally useless to complain about it because the board and supervisor have no compassion for the people who will be affected on the river.It is not our fault it is the rains fault is all we will ever hear. Another free pass for the left. Just by your flood insurance you will need it.