Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam |
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Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam, with Pennsylvania Route 61 in the background
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| Country | United States of America |
| Location | Upper Augusta Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania |
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Status | Operational |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Susquehanna River |
| Length | 2,100 feet (640 m) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Lake Augusta |
| Surface area | 3,000 acre (12 km²) |
The Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam is a very special kind of dam located in Pennsylvania, USA. It's known as the world's longest inflatable dam! This means it's made of giant rubber bags that can be filled with air or water.
This dam sits on the Susquehanna River, right where two parts of the river meet. It's found in Upper Augusta Township, between the towns of Shamokin Dam and Sunbury, Pennsylvania.
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What is the Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam?
The Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam is 2,100 feet (640 meters) long. That's about the length of seven football fields! When the dam is raised in the summer, it creates a large body of water called Lake Augusta. This lake covers about 3,000 acres (12 square kilometers).
Lake Augusta is a popular spot for fun activities like boating and fishing. Both the dam and the lake are part of Shikellamy State Park, which is a great place for outdoor adventures.
Why is it Called the Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam?
The dam wasn't always called by its current name. It was first known as the Sunbury Fabridam. In 2001, it was renamed to honor Adam T. Bower.
Who was Adam T. Bower?
Adam T. Bower was an important person in Pennsylvania's government. He worked as the Chief Clerk for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1967 to 1968. He also helped manage things during a big meeting called the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention in 1967-68. The state decided to rename the dam after him to remember his contributions.
What are the Future Plans for the Dam?
There are plans to add a special structure called a fish ladder to the dam.
What is a Fish Ladder?
A fish ladder is like a set of steps or a ramp that helps fish swim past a dam. This is super important for fish like the American shad. It allows them to travel upstream to lay their eggs and then return to the ocean.
In 2007, the dam was slowly lowered earlier than usual. This was done so that workers could replace and fix some of the large rubber bags that make up the dam.
The History of the Shamokin Dam
Before the current inflatable dam, there was an older dam at this location. It was simply called the Shamokin Dam.
What was the Old Shamokin Dam Used For?
The original Shamokin Dam helped keep the water level high enough for ferries to cross the Susquehanna River. These ferries carried people and goods between the village of Shamokin (now Sunbury) and the west bank.
In March 1904, the old dam was destroyed. This happened when a huge amount of ice, about 22 inches (56 cm) thick, broke up during the spring thaw. The town on the west bank, Shamokin Dam, was named after this earlier dam.
There is another, smaller dam located about 1.2 miles (1.9 km) downstream from the Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam. This dam is used for the Shamokin Dam Power Plant.
Images for kids
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Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam, with Pennsylvania Route 61 in the background
