Oakland Dam removed from Susquehanna River

In Pennsylvania’s largest dam removal in modern times, a 755-feet-long, 16-feet-high concrete span has been bulldozed from the North Branch of the Susquehanna River. The last of the rubble was hauled away on Sept. 21. Local officials and environmental groups have hailed the removal of the Oakland Dam for banishing a longtime barrier to paddling and the movement of fish, water-purifying mussels and other wildlife. “Removing a dam is the fastest, most efficient way to bring a river back to life,” said Tom Kierman, president of American Rivers, a national nonprofit that was a partner in the project. Others included the boroughs of Oakland and Susquehanna, Endless Mountains Heritage Area, Upper Susquehanna Coalition, two state agencies and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The $450,000 demolition project was funded through grants.