South Whitehall Township's meeting room was filled to capacity March 4 for the board's meeting.

Residents gathered to hear the long-awaited report relating to the removal of Wehr's Dam.

Nate Hoffman, senior project scientist for KCI Technologies, presented the results of the study, funded by grants obtained by the Wildlands Conservancy.

Hoffman, manager for this project, explained four main goals of the undertaking: 1) To evaluate the feasibility of dam removal and restoration of Jordan Creek in Covered Bridge Park to allow fish passage to the upstream reaches of the creek; 2) To provide a comprehensive study to support an informed decision by South Whitehall Township; 3) To develop a restoration strategy incorporating elements of natural channel design; and 4) To evaluate a no action alternative determining the scope and cost for repair and maintenance of the dam over the next five years.

The study included historical aspects, infrastructure, endangered species, stream assessment, sediment analysis, hydrology and hydraulics, dam evaluation and conceptual design for restoration of Jordan Creek.

Hoffman said the dam is not eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places because the grist mill is gone and the dam lacks significance regarding construction or engineering technique.

He said the endangered American eel and sea lamprey, which migrate between saltwater and freshwater habitats, would benefit by removal of Wehr's Dam with the additional 2.45 miles of unimpeded spawning waters.

Through analysis, sediment was found to be not contaminated, which means it would not have to be trucked off site, stated Hoffman.

He said removal of the dam will decrease localized upstream flooding.

Hoffman turned attention to the structural evaluation of the dam and displayed pictures of patchwork repairs done by South Whitehall in 2004 and 2005 which are not holding up.

"Our structural evaluation showed numerous cracks and seepage areas," Hoffman said. "The water is seeping behind and making the abutment break up.

"The flood gate is rusted shut and there is no way to evacuate the dam in an emergency. If the dam fails, the DEP requires a clean-up at South Whitehall's cost.

"If the dam collapses, material upstream would flow down. The DEP would not allow this."

He said there are many grants are available for removal of the dam and restoration of the Jordan Creek in Covered Bridge Park.

The work could be done at no cost to the township.

If South Whitehall chooses to save the dam, to correct the structural deficiencies, the cost is estimated at $950,857. Over a five-year period, the total to repair and operate the dam would be about $1,106,12, said Hoffman.

If the 190-foot dam is taken out, the stream would decrease to a width of 40-50 feet.

Revegetation of the adjacent floodplain could then occur.

Hoffman said the banks would be graded, stabilized, and seeded with a mix of plants native to the watershed, leading to re-establishment of the riparian habitat.