One of the best ways to heal a river is to remove a dam. That’s why, for well over a decade, Prairie Rivers Network has advocated for the removal of the Danville and Ellsworth Park dams in the Vermilion River system near Danville, Illinois.
We are happy to say, that the dams are finally coming out!
The journey has been a long one. The removals have been nothing short of controversial, resulting in contentious meetings and sometimes public shouting matches. After years of planning and advocacy, we had a major victory in 2014 when the Danville City Council voted to proceed with the removals. It wasn’t long, though, before the sweet taste of victory turned sour–the state funds for dam removal were frozen during Illinois’ multi-year budget crisis. Now, with an actual state budget and unfrozen funds, things are back on track and the work is getting done (at the time writing, the majority of the Danville Dam structure has already been removed).
While a thorough recounting of how removal efforts transpired is important, we mustn’t lose sight of why we want them removed in the first place–to heal our rivers and the diversity of life that depends on them.
Built long ago, these two dams have far outlived their intended purpose of providing water supply to public utilities and industry. Yet, the dams continued for decades to alter flow, degrade habitat, block fish passage, and create safety hazards for river users. With their removal, things are going to change, for the better.
The removals will return a section of the Vermilion river to a more natural, free-flowing state, allowing fish and other aquatic organisms to access an additional 175 stream miles of high-quality habitat. With a free-flowing river also comes the potential for improved aquatic habitat and water quality–no longer is water unnaturally slowed and impounded. With these improvements, we hope to see a diversity of aquatic life thrive throughout the river system.
This could not have been accomplished without the work of many. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Illinois Natural History Survey, the City of Danville, and many, many others have worked for years to make this possible. We will continue to follow the removal of these dams, the restoration of our rivers, and the recovery of all forms of life that depend on them.
