First phase of removal set to begin for dam

GROVE CITY, Pa. -- A dam across Wolf Creek originally built to turn grist mills along the bank will be demolished by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
The dam, about 6 feet high and 100 feet long, serves no functional purpose today and is in an advanced state of disrepair, making it a serious liability for the borough, which owns it, according to PennDOT.
Removing it will reduce flooding upstream and restore stream ecology, improving habitat for fish and other aquatic organisms, restore wetlands for woodcock and other wetland species and eliminate a public safety concern, PennDOT said.
The borough and Pine Township have future plans for the area as part of a recreational trail.
The first phase of removal begins at 2 p.m. today when the dam will be breached.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Mercer County Conservation District, the borough, Pine Township, the U.S. National Resource Conservation Service, American Rivers and PennDOT are partners in the project.