What about Flooding ?

So many home-owners fear flooding and loss of property values, and increased insurance premiums. Rightly so.  We have met and spoken with them, most notably the residents immediately upstream of the dam and bridge.  We have film footage elsewhere in our blog of the most recent flood scare and evacuation in 2008.
The dam, at a recent breached or near breached state, got some high-tech help from  members of the town's emergency management team, seen below...

When 1920's technology won't cut it-- go to Plan B (Sept. 2008)

The NUMBER ONE MISCONCEPTION about most dams is that they prevent flooding. This is NOT true.
 In short:   A dam like the Pucker Street dam withholds water, confines it. During high water events, the
back-up of water upstream of a dam causes the water to immediately move laterally (sideways), as a valuable piece of terrain known as a "flood plain" is removed from the equation when water is already backed up and flooded.

In the case of the Dowagiac, there will be between 5 and 7 feet of water elevated and flooded above the normal hight water river bank level.   See below:

A dammed river floods the upper bank, and facilitates more rapid flooding in a lateral direction

Dams like the Pucker Street Dam increase the risk of  flooding, they do not prevent it.

Still not sure?     Watch this very pertinent movie and see for yourself.  It discusses how the water-table is stabilized when dams are removed and rivers are restored. Or, drive up to Meade or Pucker Street and knock on a few doors of homeowners to see if this assertion is correct.  Or......

Click HERE to see a short film on how landowners, citizens, and businesses reduced flood risk in several small " river towns "!

Special Thanks to American Rivers for this production. You can order it for FREE by visiting American Rivers.com, and browsing their library of dozens of dam removal stories.