The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have organized a "Dam Day" at the Conemaugh River Dam for the first time in over 20 years on Saturday.
Free outside tours were open to the public while those who pre-registered and passed a background check were able to see inside of the dam.
“I’m very proud of the facilities," said Emily Potter, Resource Manager at Conemaugh Dam. "It’s nice for people to understand that we’re here. There’s a lot of people that don’t even know that the dam is here and that we exist, and those that do, honestly don’t necessarily understand the vast impact that it has on the facility so this day just gives us a time that we can share that story, give them an idea of what we do and why we’re here."
The Conemaugh dam provides flood protection for the lower Conemaugh Valley, the Kiskiminetas Valley, the lower Allegheny Valley, and the upper Ohio River Valley.
"The rivers wouldn’t be the rivers that they are without our reservoirs," said Potter. "Likewise with flooding you also have drought conditions. We’re able to let water out and that water still allows the barge traffic. The reservoirs impact the entire area no matter if it’s through commercial trafficking or whether it’s recreation.
The Corps hopes to make "Dam Day" a yearly event so that the public can continue exploring and learning about the different ways that river dams impact our environment.
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