The Ballville Dam
SANDUSKY RIVER, BALLVILLE TOWNSHIP
Ask any avid fisherman or outdoorsman if they have a location that they hold sacred, and the answer is nearly always "YES". For me, it is the Sandusky River. The river that flows through the city of my youth, and still remains one of my most often fished waters. Unfortunately, I have never known this river as it naturally had intended to flow. This is due to the Ballville Dam.
The Ballville Dam is a microcosm of what happened to tributaries all over the United States. As populations grew along the rivers, dams were constructed to provide municpal water supplies and/or provide hydroelectric power. While this could easily be considered essential at the time, decades and in some cases a century later, these dams are often left standing when they are no longer in use. Additionally, some remain in use where alternatives could be done at less expense, increased safety, more efficiently, with little or no impact on the environment. While I am no expert, my comments summarize hours of research that people far more brilliant than myself have done. I just feel blessed that in today's world the access to that information is so readily and easily obtained.
So what exactly is the big deal about dams? Well it goes without question that changing a rivers flow would impact the geography greatly, and all the wildlife in and around it. For the purposes of this site and my interest specifically, it is that fish are blocked from migratory patterns and their historic spawning grounds. It is not argued that this leads to an exceptional decline in fish populations as they are less likely to spawn effectively. Furthermore, some species are more prone to be impacted by these dams leading to an unnatural balance of the fish that are represented in a given body of water.
Before I begin the dialogue about Ballville Dam, if the topic of dam removal interests you, check out;
American Rivers Thriving by Nature
Getting back to the topic of this particular dam, it is the popular Walleye that is the rallying cry for it's removal. I have an entire page dedicated to the Walleye Run that takes place on this river and the Maumee River. This lucrative event sees a huge economic boost for the Toledo/Maumee/Rossford area where the Walleye populations are far superior during the run. Surely, there is motivation on the Sandusky River to see better numbers of Walleye and the subsequent increase in fishermen to the area. As it is with so many things, money will drive real action, and if it takes a popular sportfish to get the job done, so be it. The end result is that this would benefit a lot of species, so once again I am happy to stand with the masses cheering "Walleye!"
Since 1911, fish have not been able to navigate past the 423 feet long by 34.4 feet high dam, on the Sandusky River.
The author begs the question, "If the dam will no longer serve as a municpal water supply or any other use, why should it stand?"
-TIMELINE 02.11.12-
This page has been a historic time soak for me as I was always having to rewrite it based on the latest information available. From here on out I will just have the above intro and then cover new developments as they happen. In other words, if I choose to add any commentary at a specific point on the timeline, it may not be accurate with the final outcome or latest data available. I have already experienced many highs and lows with thinking the dam would be gone 100% or thinking it was destined to stay. To get folks up to speed who may have never heard anything about this dam or it's removal, I will provide a bit of information: Constructed on the Sandusky River about 12 miles upstream from Sandusky Bay, in 1911. Dam was used as a hydroelectric generating facility to 1946. In 1959, the City of Fremont bought the dam to utilize as a water supply. The city of Fremont is currently building a reservoir to serve as it's municpal water supply. The City of Fremont has secured millions of dollars in grants to fund the removal of the dam. If the dam is removed, it is estimated to allow 22 additional miles of unobstructed water on the Sandusky River. The next obstruction would be Tinkers Dam in Tiffin, Ohio.
The most recent articles;
(click the logos)
LAKE ERIE
SANDUSKY BAY
FREMONT
TIFFIN
FREMONT
TIFFIN
BALLVILLE DAM
TINKERS DAM
OVER 20 MILES!
I created this map to provide a visual understanding of the amount of river this would free up and it's relation to the bay and Lake Erie.
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NOVEMBER 4, 2011 - An encouraging article that everything is moving along at a good pace towards a spring 2013 removal of the dam. Good encouraging words from Mayor Terry Overmyer.
NOVEMBER 10, 2011 - Newly elected Mayor James Ellis does not seem nearly as motivated to see the dam's demise. The next chapter begins in the saga of the Ballville Dam.
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