Lost Man Creek Dam facts for kids
Lost Man Creek Dam is a structure found within the beautiful Redwood National and State Parks in Humboldt County, California. It is located a short distance upstream from where Lost Man Creek meets Prairie Creek. This dam is about 7.3 meters (24 feet) long and 22.8 meters (75 feet) wide. It stretches back about 30.5 meters (100 feet) to the south.
History of the Dam
In 1936, a dam was built on the upper part of Lost Man Creek. It was called the Upper Dam on Lost Man Creek. This dam was created to provide water for a nearby fish farm, known as the Prairie Creek Fish Hatchery. The hatchery itself was built in 1927. Its goal was to help increase the number of fish like cutthroat trout, chinook salmon, and silverside fish.
A pipe, about 30 centimeters (12 inches) wide, carried water for about 914 meters (3,000 feet) from the Upper Dam to the hatchery. However, about 19 years later, the Upper Dam was no longer used. It became a problem because it blocked the path for chinook salmon trying to swim upstream. Fish need a strong water flow and a drop in the water to jump over obstacles. The Upper Dam did not provide this, so fish got stuck.
In 1989, the Redwood National Park decided to remove the Upper Dam completely. This big cleanup involved taking away structures called fish ladders. Workers also filled the area behind the dam with dirt and dried out the pond that had formed there. This pond used to hold a lot of water.
During floods in 1971 and 1972, much of the pipeline connecting the hatchery and the Upper Dam was destroyed. To replace it, a new structure called the Lower Dam on Lost Man Creek was built. Its main job is to direct water from the Prairie Creek Fish Hatchery.
Even as the Upper Dam was being removed, people discussed taking out the Lower Dam too. There were worries about what would happen if it was removed. Some ideas suggested removing it quickly in one season. Other ideas proposed taking it apart slowly over six seasons. There was also the option to remove only a small part and leave the rest. Scientists were unsure how wildlife would react or how the flow of dirt and sand would affect plants. In the end, the Lower Dam was left as it was.
Rules and the Dam
National Parks are special places. Their purpose is to protect or bring back natural areas to how they were before humans had a big impact. Since Redwood National Park is a national park, there is a discussion about whether the Lower Dam should be removed.
Removing the dam involves several legal steps. Permits would be needed from different government groups. These include the Department of the Army and the Department of Fish and Game. A permit for changing a stream bed and a water quality permit would also be required. Before any of these permits can be obtained, the National Park must get permission from the state of California and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. This permission is needed to make changes to the environment.
