DEC to remove "stop logs" from Croghan Dam

(07/20/11) The Department of Environmental Conservation will remove stop logs from the historic dam in Croghan tomorrow morning. That's according to former Croghan mayor Glen Gagnier, who says he received a call from the DEC. It's been known for decades that the dam on the Beaver River in Lewis County is crumbling. The DEC classifies it as a high hazard.

But the dam holds back a reservoir that's used for recreation and firefighting. Removing the logs will lower the water level several feet. The water also powers one of the few remaining mechanically powered sawmills, the Croghan Island Mill.

The community has applied for a grant to rehabilitate the dam and install new hydropower. DEC officials say removing the stop logs will not interfere with that process, but will make the dam safer.