Schumer: USDA Work to Preserve the Croghan Dam Moves Forward - Agency Approves Engineering Study that Creates Plan to Permanently Restore Historic Dam

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved an engineering plan to rehab the historic Croghan Dam, which marks a major step towards making the dam a permanent fixture in Lewis County. Earlier this year, Schumer helped to secure nearly $100,000 in federal USDA funds for this study, so that Lewis County could chart the best way forward to refurbish the dam, which is essential to property values, fire safety, and powering the saw mill. The federal funding enables the Lewis County Development Corporation and Gomez and Sullivan Engineers, of Utica, to proceed with a dam break analysis site survey that will identify the repairs needed to refurbish the Croghan Dam. Since Schumer's visit to the Dam in August, the Department of Environmental Conservation has not removed any additional logs from the dam, keeping water levels steady.

"This is an important step forward to ensure the long-term survival of this historic dam," said Schumer. "The Croghan Dam is synonymous with Lewis County, and it absolutely deserves our support. Not only does it support the mill, it also keeps property values stable and ensures that the fire department has the water it needs when disaster strikes. I'm pleased the DEC has stopped removing logs, and look forward to the results of this study that will chart the best path forward for preserving this local treasure."

Recently, a lack of coordination at all levels of government has caused uncertainty for riverfront businesses and property owners who have watched water levels recede as logs have been removed from the dam. In an August 2011 visit to the Croghan Dam, Schumer stated that the dam has been a vital resource for the people of Lewis County for over a century, providing mechanical hydropower to the historic Croghan Island Mill, acting as a primary source of fire protection, and protecting the land values and water supply of shore wells and farms upstream. The Croghan Island Mill historically had used water power to make custom doors, windows and other wooden items. However, 2010's stop-log removal, coupled with a reduction in water releases from hydroelectric dams upriver, dropped the water level and caused bearings on the shaft of the company's water wheel to break. However, since Schumer's visit in August, the State Department of Environmental Conservation has not removed any logs from the dam. Schumer states that this, in combination with the USDA's approval of an engineering plan committed to rehabbing the Croghan Dam, is a major step forward in making the dam a lasting feature of Lewis County, and minimizing uncertainly for local business, the Mill and the Village.

In early 2011, Schumer helped secure a $99,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant for the Lewis County Development Corporation to support the community's fight for a future where the dam is restored and the economy left intact. The funding supports the USDA engineering plan that is being implemented today, and will allow community leaders, and local engineers, to proceed with a dam break analysis site survey that will identify the repairs needed to refurbish the am. Schumer states that this provides major support to the county and other local stakeholders committed to a plan that once and for all rehabilitates the Croghan Dam upon the completion of the study, and continues to urge the State Department of Environmental Conservation to work with these local leaders and permanently halt any plans to further dismantle the Croghan Dam.

The Croghan dam functions as a primary source of water for fire protection, and creates riverfront property that boosts local land values and serves as a water supply of shore wells and farms upstream. The dam defends residents immediately downstream in the event of flooding caused by heavy rains and ice. Additionally, it supplies hydro-mechanical power to the Croghan Island Mill, a historic landmark in the community. If the Croghan Dam were to be dismantled the mill would have to turn to other, more costly forms of powering their business operations.

In addition to the detrimental impact that the removal of Croghan Dam would have on Lewis County, Schumer noted that a successful rehabilitation of the dam would have the potential to create a permanent renewable energy source in Lewis County. The development of Croghan Dam for hydro-electric generation would be a clean source of alternative energy, and Schumer noted that the potential of selling excess energy back to the grid would create yet another revenue stream for the County. A successful completion of the Croghan Dam project would serve as a model for other communities in New York State wishing to refurbish their aging dams in order to stimulate economic development.

The Croghan Dam powers the Croghan Island Mill which is one of New York's last water powered saw mills. Initially constructed in 1848, the current dam was finally completed in 1918. The Croghan Island Mill Lumber Company, has been added to the Register of Very Special Places by the Traditional Arts in Upstate New York, an organization that identifies cultural landmarks in the North Country. The mill is also on the State and National Register of Historic Places.

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