They removed a couple dams on the Shiawassee River over here in Michigan a few years back and as usual, many folks were upset about their removals but the projects pushed forward anyway and the end results were amazing. The same folks who were against it either realized it was a good thing after seeing the results or they just accepted it and moved on because people stopped complaining and I see more folks out enjoying the river now than ever before.
I’m from this area, most of my family is still there, although I headed west to Oregon and later Idaho. Living in the the west has really given me a deep appreciation for free-flowing rivers. I grew up as a kid wading, swimming, and fishing in the tributaries of the Baraboo, below the Caz dam, fishing Northern behind the water treatment plant in Reedsburg, fishing below the LaValle dam, and wading and fishing along Hwy. G between Ironton, over to Valton. My grandfather farmed on the creek that eventually became Dutch Hollow Lake. Seeing this beautiful river restored fills my heart. Some of the most beautiful country, few places are as worthy of dam removal projects. Great job, please keep up the great work!
Coming home from the Dells 3 years ago, we stopped for a picnic lunch here. I caught a 19" Smallmouth bass right there in town! GREAT JOB PEOPLE OF BARABOO !!
Lots of native trees, bushes and grasses along the edge of the river walk would help shade and clean the water and absorb floodwaters. Great job with this. Way to go! Now, on to the lower 4 Snake River dams in Washington state!
Great work to everyone involved! So exciting to see this! As a boy, I spent my summers in Blue River (between Muscoda and Boscobel), not far from Baraboo...I would take the Greyhound from Cincinnati to Richland Center to visit my grandparents for a summer of fishing...I miss Wisconsin!
Thanks. Can we ask... from what website did you find the link to this video? We're getting great reception from folks like you worldwide, but we're just unsure what website is promoting all of these views.
I grew up w those mill ponds in NJ. They were fun. The fish species composition was different than in the river above and below. Lots of frogs. Pretty. But in the long run we need connected water ways for catadromous and anadromous fishes and other migrating aquatic wildlife. Think shad eels and salmon. Steelhead. Salter brook trout. Change is tuff. The only constant is change. And yes, sometimes it’s difficult.
Thank you so much for this! I’m in Manawa and we lost the side of the dam due to a bad storm. I’m hoping they return it like you did in Baraboo. Lots of great information
as a lifetime backpacker, fisher, hunter in california, it is horrific to see how badly the environment has been abused, mismanaged and neglected by those in power. it has brought tears to my eyes.
Great story and a great effort in restoring the river. I have a small creek that runs through my property and it dumps into a large pipe as it reaches the town and flow under the town down to a major river 1/2 a km away making it impossible for anything to swim upstream anymore. When I talk to some of the old timers still around they say there was trout that used to swim up to spawn 50 years ago. Now after a bit of work, a few tons of rocks and a bunch of logs creating some pools and rapids, I have minnows, frogs and crayfish.....wish I had trout.
Very nice video!. I've certainly been able to witness the improved fishing and beauty. I will be sharing this video with my students in our Environmental Health unit.
Smaller scale water volumes withdrawals downstream rely on 23 Celcius or colder to function across greater river miles towards its mouth into Marine conditions which may offset lower temps in freshwater zones or restore its continuity for fish passage.
Actually higher freshwater temperature gradients from Source to estuarine conditions of lower temperatures generally from Oceanic temps as far as the West Coast which would be cooler almost over most Alaska, Canada, WA/OR/CA excluding Southern Coastlines of Baja Mexico and Southern California.
A great good news story. Interesting you apparently don’t need to worry about flooding? Is there not a flood plain? Different from here in Australia maybe, Thanks
It's a well established river that has been used for 2000 years without flooding issues, because these formations are tens of thousands of years old to begin with, they formed their own wetlands and drainage without humans just fine.
Yes, the Baraboo River has several flood plains along it's length. The closer to it's termination at the Wisconsin River the larger they become. My family has owned farm land along it's banks for generations and most of that land they owned has been returned to it's natural state.
I kayaked from the North Freedom Park boat launch to Driftless Glen Distillery this summer. I can't locate anywhere how many river miles that was. Can anyone point me to a resource to find that figure?
It’s a crying shame the damage that all these dams have done and are doing to the natural environment I wish there was someway we could find alternative sources of water alternative sources for generating power and electricity and just demolish all the dam‘s all around the world and restore all these places back to the natural beauty they once were
Hydropower is still viable, but there are thousands of these little dams that were not designed to generate electricity at a scale that is relevant anymore. Many old grist mills like the one in the video only made 2-3 horse power
I have long followed and agree with the idea of dam removal and the history. Which leaves me bemoaning the world-wide, rampant be-damming of rivers on a massive scale. Particularly the Mekong River which was the last of the major rivers of the world to be extensively dammed-until recently, there was only one dam on the whole river. Now China and Laos are rampantly damming the river. changing and degrading the whole system. the vast, productive rice-growing delta area is becoming salinized and destroyed as a productive area because the dams are reducing the flow of the river and the sea is backing up into the agricultural area. There are now dams being built in the delta to keep the sea water from backing up-stream.
What they don't say is that there have been several destructive floods along the river since three larger dams were removed from the upper river, causing millions of dollars in damage to the communities along the banks.
I wholeheartedly believe that what they've done in this video was right, Im just really curious how beavers do it better or if maybe they choose different kinds of rivers, different niches in rivers?
This is a great question! Beaver dams usually do not block as many fish for nearly as long as human made dams. If beavers were the only thing building dams it would encourage a number of wetland types. The abundance of human made dams has put the riverine ecosystem at risk
@@illadelagos8770 Going off what Randy said, I’d guess the main difference is beaver dams are relatively temporary (can be washed out in a big storm for example) and still allows some water/fish to pass at the minimum
The Columbia River here in Washington State has dams that are hugely economically important. I hope this never happens here. Our dams have fish ladders keeping the ecosystem for fish healthy
Every dam and weir without power plant means tons and tones of coal or gas burned. Every dam or weir removed means opportunity to reduce fuel consumption is lost.
So what would you think of taking out Glen Canyon? Or all the Dams on the Colorado? Glen Canyon was already supposed to been out. 2022. Is there really a drought? Or does someone want you only to get electricity from them? Not that these dams shouldn't come out. But some should not. Hoover Dam created a lifestyle in the barren desert. It's a monument to mankind and should remain long after producing. So we got people trying to take everything out. Fact. It's all birds & fairies until the floods come. But ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on this 1. 🙂🇺🇸
They removed a couple dams on the Shiawassee River over here in Michigan a few years back and as usual, many folks were upset about their removals but the projects pushed forward anyway and the end results were amazing. The same folks who were against it either realized it was a good thing after seeing the results or they just accepted it and moved on because people stopped complaining and I see more folks out enjoying the river now than ever before.
Thank you for your true leadership
Makes me so happy and greatly encouraged.
I so love stories of river restoration projects...
I’m from this area, most of my family is still there, although I headed west to Oregon and later Idaho. Living in the the west has really given me a deep appreciation for free-flowing rivers. I grew up as a kid wading, swimming, and fishing in the tributaries of the Baraboo, below the Caz dam, fishing Northern behind the water treatment plant in Reedsburg, fishing below the LaValle dam, and wading and fishing along Hwy. G between Ironton, over to Valton. My grandfather farmed on the creek that eventually became Dutch Hollow Lake. Seeing this beautiful river restored fills my heart. Some of the most beautiful country, few places are as worthy of dam removal projects. Great job, please keep up the great work!
Coming home from the Dells 3 years ago, we stopped for a picnic lunch here. I caught a 19" Smallmouth bass right there in town! GREAT JOB PEOPLE OF BARABOO !!
Great video - as a kid we used to fish behind the dams but all we really caught were bullheads and carp. Very happy to see the river healthy again!
Lots of native trees, bushes and grasses along the edge of the river walk would help shade and clean the water and absorb floodwaters. Great job with this. Way to go! Now, on to the lower 4 Snake River dams in Washington state!
Glad to see so many agencies partner up for a successful project
Great work to everyone involved! So exciting to see this! As a boy, I spent my summers in Blue River (between Muscoda and Boscobel), not far from Baraboo...I would take the Greyhound from Cincinnati to Richland Center to visit my grandparents for a summer of fishing...I miss Wisconsin!
What a great example of river restoration. Amazing work! Greetings from Germany!
Thanks. Can we ask... from what website did you find the link to this video? We're getting great reception from folks like you worldwide, but we're just unsure what website is promoting all of these views.
I grew up w those mill ponds in NJ. They were fun. The fish species composition was different than in the river above and below. Lots of frogs.
Pretty.
But in the long run we need connected water ways for catadromous and anadromous fishes and other migrating aquatic wildlife.
Think shad eels and salmon. Steelhead. Salter brook trout.
Change is tuff.
The only constant is change. And yes, sometimes it’s difficult.
Thank you so much for this! I’m in Manawa and we lost the side of the dam due to a bad storm. I’m hoping they return it like you did in Baraboo. Lots of great information
Newly reborn river - fantatic!!!!
Fantastic, living in Spain and just wishing you guys the best, let´s keep going
as a lifetime backpacker, fisher, hunter in california, it is horrific to see how badly the environment has been abused, mismanaged and neglected by those in power. it has brought tears to my eyes.
I personally witnessed 2 sturgeon around 5 ft long surfacing and migrating upriver right above the rapids where gander mountain used to be
What a wonderful story
Beautiful country up there
Great story and a great effort in restoring the river. I have a small creek that runs through my property and it dumps into a large pipe as it reaches the town and flow under the town down to a major river 1/2 a km away making it impossible for anything to swim upstream anymore. When I talk to some of the old timers still around they say there was trout that used to swim up to spawn 50 years ago. Now after a bit of work, a few tons of rocks and a bunch of logs creating some pools and rapids, I have minnows, frogs and crayfish.....wish I had trout.
Get some beavers and you'll have even more biodiversity.
Love your success with this project and the fine example you set. Many more such projects will follow to the benefit of all.
Very nice video!. I've certainly been able to witness the improved fishing and beauty. I will be sharing this video with my students in our Environmental Health unit.
Excellent work on this video! Big thank you for sharing such a successful endeavor!
I love that I live on this river!
How is the smallmouth bass fishing??
*Call in the local beavers that probably used to live there before industrialization, they'll fix up the ecosystem in no time.*
Amen yo! 🦫🦫🦫🦫
That river is full of beaver and otters
Amazing, thanks to share that beautiful and inspiring projects ;)
This would be a worthwhile project to consider in communities that still have dams. That do not produce electricity anymore.
I like t vide wt silent mode. T views is osommmmmmm. 👍 Up. Nice place to vacation wt cleans and nice places to chills. ❤️
people are catching sturgeon in la valle now too
Smaller scale water volumes withdrawals downstream rely on 23 Celcius or colder to function across greater river miles towards its mouth into Marine conditions which may offset lower temps in freshwater zones or restore its continuity for fish passage.
Im o.k. with it too...Great story thanks!
Let's get rid of all these damn dams!
Good info thankyou
God blessed you guys..
Actually higher freshwater temperature gradients from Source to estuarine conditions of lower temperatures generally from Oceanic temps as far as the West Coast which would be cooler almost over most Alaska, Canada, WA/OR/CA excluding Southern Coastlines of Baja Mexico and Southern California.
A great good news story. Interesting you apparently don’t need to worry about flooding? Is there not a flood plain? Different from here in Australia maybe, Thanks
Dams cause floods. There is less flooding, not more.
It's a well established river that has been used for 2000 years without flooding issues, because these formations are tens of thousands of years old to begin with, they formed their own wetlands and drainage without humans just fine.
Yes, the Baraboo River has several flood plains along it's length. The closer to it's termination at the Wisconsin River the larger they become. My family has owned farm land along it's banks for generations and most of that land they owned has been returned to it's natural state.
Great job... 👍
Were any of the native riparian zone trees, black willow trees, eastern cottonwood trees, and water elm restored to the Baraboo River shoreline?
Fantastic! What do I need to do??? Fish The Mighty Baraboo!!! Sinn Fein Byrne
Wonderful ☝️❤️✌️🌍🙏
Are amphibious mammals coming back? Otter, beaver etc?
very well done
I kayaked the river it was fun.
I kayaked from the North Freedom Park boat launch to Driftless Glen Distillery this summer. I can't locate anywhere how many river miles that was. Can anyone point me to a resource to find that figure?
Sad all these people got killed
It’s a crying shame the damage that all these dams have done and are doing to the natural environment I wish there was someway we could find alternative sources of water alternative sources for generating power and electricity and just demolish all the dam‘s all around the world and restore all these places back to the natural beauty they once were
Interesting!!
The river would look even better if there was no eroded soil from conventional agriculture contaminating it
Most certainly true. Rivers could be exponentially healthier than this as stupid ag gets fixed
forget the music
So is Are dams worth it anymore …. Is hydroelectric power viable anymore.
Hydropower is still viable, but there are thousands of these little dams that were not designed to generate electricity at a scale that is relevant anymore.
Many old grist mills like the one in the video only made 2-3 horse power
next step: don't mow the grass too much
I have long followed and agree with the idea of dam removal and the history. Which leaves me bemoaning the world-wide, rampant be-damming of rivers on a massive scale. Particularly the Mekong River which was the last of the major rivers of the world to be extensively dammed-until recently, there was only one dam on the whole river. Now China and Laos are rampantly damming the river. changing and degrading the whole system. the vast, productive rice-growing delta area is becoming salinized and destroyed as a productive area because the dams are reducing the flow of the river and the sea is backing up into the agricultural area. There are now dams being built in the delta to keep the sea water from backing up-stream.
What they don't say is that there have been several destructive floods along the river since three larger dams were removed from the upper river, causing millions of dollars in damage to the communities along the banks.
Would you mind sharing sources on this? I’m interested to know what could have caused the flooding
So, beaver dams are beneficial to biodiversity, how are they different from these human-built dams?
I wholeheartedly believe that what they've done in this video was right, Im just really curious how beavers do it better or if maybe they choose different kinds of rivers, different niches in rivers?
This is a great question! Beaver dams usually do not block as many fish for nearly as long as human made dams. If beavers were the only thing building dams it would encourage a number of wetland types. The abundance of human made dams has put the riverine ecosystem at risk
@@illadelagos8770 Going off what Randy said, I’d guess the main difference is beaver dams are relatively temporary (can be washed out in a big storm for example) and still allows some water/fish to pass at the minimum
Why are locals always to against dam removal, the rivers are much healthier and beautiful without them
Free the snake river
Baraboo was such a nice town till the suburbanites came.
So whats the difference between a beaver dam and a man made one? Fish can't pass either : /
The Columbia River here in Washington State has dams that are hugely economically important. I hope this never happens here. Our dams have fish ladders keeping the ecosystem for fish healthy
barbootsala
Every dam and weir without power plant means tons and tones of coal or gas burned. Every dam or weir removed means opportunity to reduce fuel consumption
is lost.
This is a great thing
So what would you think of taking out Glen Canyon? Or all the Dams on the Colorado?
Glen Canyon was already supposed to been out. 2022. Is there really a drought? Or does someone want you only to get electricity from them? Not that these dams shouldn't come out. But some should not. Hoover Dam created a lifestyle in the barren desert. It's a monument to mankind and should remain long after producing.
So we got people trying to take everything out. Fact. It's all birds & fairies until the floods come.
But ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
on this 1. 🙂🇺🇸