Kayakers on Twelve Mile River - Photos by L. Ross
The recent removal of the lower dam on the Twelve Mile River is opening up a new stretch of the river that has long been unavailable to recreational kayaking. The second dam is to be removed this summer and a studyhas been approved to research the feasibility of removing the upper dam.
Slumberger Corp. bought the old Sangamo property and is being forced to pay $9 million to dredge PCB's that were released over decades into the river by Sangamo. A portion of the money will be left after the first two dams are removed after dredging and confinement of toxic sediment. The sum may not be enough to remove the upper dam, but Upstate Forever and other interested groups are pushing for removal of the last dam.
This would restore the river to its former free-flowing state and once erosion and stabilization of the banks takes place, it would gradually recover the wild and natural beauty that it once enjoyed.
The Twelve Mile River is a very scenic river and it is wonderful to see it restored to its former glory.
This is a great story about conservation of our natural resources.
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