Saucon Park Dam, Saucon Creek, PA

The removal of Saucon Dam is being partially funded by the American Rivers-NOAA Community-based Habitat Restoration Partnership.  The Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Dam is on the Saucon Creek, a tributary of the Lehigh River.  It is approximately two miles upstream from the Lehigh River and is the most downstream impoundment on Saucon Creek. The dam currently alters the natural flow regime of the creek, fragments river habitat, exacerbates localized flooding and erosion, and is a public safety hazard and liability to the City of Bethlehem.

Removing the dam would likely produce numerous benefits including, but not limited to, improved fish passage for resident and migratory fishes, re-establishment of more natural flow conditions, elimination of the public safety hazard and liability, increased channel storage capacity, and alleviated localized flooding and erosion. Additionally, the dam is in a state of disrepair and, as such, the City of Bethlehem would be required to remove the impoundment or repair and maintain the existing dam at a substantial and continued cost to the city.

Therefore, removal is the most favorable option financially and environmentally. The removal of Saucon Park Dam is just one aspect of a proposed large-scale habitat restoration project aimed to enhance fish habitat in Saucon Creek through the park. Although the dam removal represents only a portion of this larger project, the success of the associated stream habitat enhancement is contingent on the removal.