YORK, Pa. — The demolition process of a York dam has begun as part of the Codorus Greenway Project.
The York County Economic Alliance (YCEA), in partnership with the City of York, began demolition of the Bascule Gate Dam on the Codorus Creek on Tuesday, Dec. 5. The demolition is being done as an effort to reduce flooding, improve water quality, promote public safety and prepare for construction of the Codorus Greenway.
"For nearly a century, we’ve had plans on the books of how we can have a green accessible Codorus that could really be the crown jewel of the City of York," said Silas Chamberlin, chief strategy officer for the York County Economic Alliance. "This is really an opportunity to improve it in a number of ways."
The Bascule Gate Dam is located just downstream from the Philadelphia Street bridge in the City of York's Codorus Creek.
Since 2016, the dam's gate has been inoperable and stuck in a raised position in which it gathers debris, aggravates flooding and poses a drowning risk, officials with the City of York stated.
Since then, the dam's operation mechanism has further deteriorated and water has infiltrated the dam control housing.
"It’s rewarding to see actual work going on in the Codorus Creek, removing a 40-year-old dam that has brought some good things in terms of recreation but has also posed a safety risk," said Chamberlin.
In March 2018, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) notified York that the Bascule Gate was noncompliant with flood control requirements. As a result, the City was mandated to remove the dam.
In 2016, planning for the Codorus Greenway was initiated and removing the dam was recommended.
BrightFields, Inc. will complete the work with York-based Buchart Horn providing construction management and inspection services. The total project cost is anticipated to be $550,000 and is being covered by City of York Rescue Plan Act funds and funding from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
"If the city wasn’t using ARPA funds, we would have to dig into local funding sources," said Chamberlin. "So it’s a way to take one-time federal money coming into the city of York and use it on something that’s going to benefit generations to come."
Demolition is anticipated to be completed no later than April 30, 2024.
The first phase of work will include the demolition of a building housing the dam gate mechanism and the construction of a bypass channel to lower the water level behind the dam.
The second phase will include the demolition of the dam and dam foundation, along with the restoration of the site. Public access to the site will be restricted during demolition and safety signage will be posted.
The waters of the Codorus will be lower, exposing more debris, according to the City of York. YCEA is working with the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper to conduct litter clean-ups of the area sometime in the spring.
The Codorus Greenway Project will move forward once the dam's removal is complete. A big step closer to the greener space York City officials have envisioned.
"The Codorus Creek greenway is all about reconnecting neighborhoods to the creek itself with new access points, making it attractive and sending a signal that we want to invest in our natural places," said Chamberlin. "[We] also want to invest in our neighborhoods and their quality of life."