Black Rock Dam (Schuylkill River)

Infobox_Dam
dam_name= Black Rock Dam

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caption = Black Rock Dam with flood waters. Canal forebay in foreground.
official_name=
crosses= Schuylkill River
reservoir= Black Rock Pool
locale= Southeast Pennsylvania
maint= Exelon
length= convert|480|ft|m|sigfig=2 main
convert|900|ft|m|sigfig=2 fore bay
height=
hydraulic_head= low
width=
began=
open= c. 1825
closed=
cost=
reservoir_capacity=
reservoir_catchment=
reservoir_surface=
map_cue=
map_

map_text=
map_width=
coordinates= coord|40|08|52|N|75|30|22|W|type:landmark_region:US|display=inline,title
lat=
long=
extra= Infobox_nrhp
name =Contributing property of the
Schuylkill Navigation Canal, Oakes Reach Section Historic District
nrhp_type = cp
refnum=88000462 cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

The Black Rock Dam is a low head dam in the Schuylkill River. Originally constructed as a stone filled, timber crib dam in the early 19th century by the Schuylkill Navigation Company, the dam created a slack water pool for the Schuylkill Canal. The dam included three hydroelectric generators for a period of time and is now owned by Exelon. The dam is contributing property of the Schuylkill Navigation Canal, Oakes Reach Section registered historic district,

The original dam structure is "L" shaped. There is the usual perpendicular crossing, but the majority of the structure is a long forebay for the canal, parallel to the left bank. The forebay section has two spill ways, the abandoned power house section, and ends at Lock 60 of the canal. In the 20th century, the perpendicular section was extended across the end of the forebay, creating a straight bank to bank dam and capping the forebay.

As part of a project to restore the migratory American shad to the Schuylkill, a fish ladder is being added to the dam. [cite web |url= http://www.fish.state.pa.us/shad_schu.htm |title= Schuylkill River American Shad |accessdate= 2008-10-11]

References