Visiting the Conowingo Dam

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The Susquehanna River has the 16th largest watershed of any U.S. river and provides half the freshwater inflow that enters Chesapeake Bay, just below the Conowingo Dam. 
The Susquehanna River has the 16th largest watershed of any U.S. river and provides half the freshwater inflow that enters Chesapeake Bay, just below the Conowingo Dam. 

One of the main obstacles that prompted B.A.S.S. officials to cancel this week's event on the Chesapeake Bay, is the influx of flood waters on Susquehanna River. 
One of the main obstacles that prompted B.A.S.S. officials to cancel this week’s event on the Chesapeake Bay, is the influx of flood waters on Susquehanna River. 
As the water continues to rise, more and more flood gates may need to be opened at the Conowingo Dam. Not only will it increase the flow of water, tens of thousands of cubic feet per second, but it will also begin to dump tons of debris that flood waters have pushed up against the upriver side of the dam. Here's a look at the current conditions upstream and downstream of the Conowingo Dam.  
As the water continues to rise, more and more flood gates may need to be opened at the Conowingo Dam. Not only will it increase the flow of water, tens of thousands of cubic feet per second, but it will also begin to dump tons of debris that flood waters have pushed up against the upriver side of the dam. Here’s a look at the current conditions upstream and downstream of the Conowingo Dam.  
At the time these photos were taken…
At the time these photos were taken…
…17 gates were open on the Conowingo Dam.
…17 gates were open on the Conowingo Dam.
Not only do the open gates mean more water will be released…
Not only do the open gates mean more water will be released…
…more and more debris comes with it.
…more and more debris comes with it.
At a park on the below the west side of the dam, there are signs warning visitors water can rise quickly. And it was.
At a park on the below the west side of the dam, there are signs warning visitors water can rise quickly. And it was.
Water had already inundated some of the walkways along the river’s shoreline.
Water had already inundated some of the walkways along the river’s shoreline.
From this overlook…
From this overlook…
…you could see workers inspecting the dam…
…you could see workers inspecting the dam…
…and shorebirds lined up along a wall in the river.
…and shorebirds lined up along a wall in the river.
There is no trespassing or fishing allowed within a certain distance of the dam.
There is no trespassing or fishing allowed within a certain distance of the dam.
There are 53 flood gates on the Conowingo Dam.
There are 53 flood gates on the Conowingo Dam.
The opening of the gates can create an incredible flash flood below the dam.
The opening of the gates can create an incredible flash flood below the dam.
Birds wait out the flood on a wall in the middle of the river channel.
Birds wait out the flood on a wall in the middle of the river channel.
This is the view as you see as you first begin to drive across the dam on the west side…
This is the view as you see as you first begin to drive across the dam on the west side…
…and a view as you look south once you’re actually crossing.
…and a view as you look south once you’re actually crossing.
The view as you look back west from the other side.
The view as you look back west from the other side.
The upriver side of the dam looks much more peaceful, but obviously higher.
The upriver side of the dam looks much more peaceful, but obviously higher.
There’s a huge amount of water upstream that will eventually have to be released through the dam .
There’s a huge amount of water upstream that will eventually have to be released through the dam .
But it’s not just water that is the concern downstream…
But it’s not just water that is the concern downstream…
…it’s fields of debris.
…it’s fields of debris.
The debris is picked along the shoreline as the water level continues to rise…
The debris is picked along the shoreline as the water level continues to rise…
…and in this instance the natural resting place is on the upriver side of the Conowingo Dam.
…and in this instance the natural resting place is on the upriver side of the Conowingo Dam.
The sirens were actually blasting while these photos were being taken.
The sirens were actually blasting while these photos were being taken.
The sirens are a warning that more water is coming, and an increase that is measured in thousands of cubic feet per second.
The sirens are a warning that more water is coming, and an increase that is measured in thousands of cubic feet per second.
Shorebirds flew safely above…
Shorebirds flew safely above…
…the roaring water below the dam.
…the roaring water below the dam.
While officials kept watch of the conditions below the dam…
While officials kept watch of the conditions below the dam…
…from a helicopter.
…from a helicopter.