ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, January 6, 1996 TAG: 9601080007
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: HARRISONBURG
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
The remains of a washed-out 8-foot dam on the South Fork of the Shenandoah River poses a serious safety hazard to canoeists and to children who play on it in warm weather, outdoorsmen say.
Stretched across the channel between Island Ford and Lynnwood is ``a jumble of concrete, steel and debris that presents a definite risk-of-life situation,'' according to ``Virginia Whitewater: A Paddler's Guide to the Rivers of Virginia.''
``Do not try it unless your will is already filed and you have had last rites or you have exceptionally poor judgment,'' says the guide, written by H. Roger Corbett.
Formerly part of Harrisonburg's hydroelectric plant, the structure was repaired after a 1924 flood. But it was damaged by Hurricane Hazel in October 1954, and the plant was abandoned the following year after hurricanes Connie and Diane ripped up the machinery, shoved the dam's solid concrete blocks off their footings and tumbled them into the river.
And there it has been for 40 years, the bane of river-runners and a ``very dangerous recreational hazard,'' said R.E.B. Stewart, an Augusta County outdoorsman who wants something done about it.
``It is one of the most dangerous spots on any of the rivers I have ever seen, and I've been on most of them,'' Stewart said. ``Portage is extremely difficult.
``In high water, it's totally impossible; you have to carry [a canoe] a half-mile around the far end,'' Stewart said. ``And in low water, it's very dangerous.''
Fortunately, few people use the area, Stewart said. ``The locals are afraid of the hazard, and the guidebooks tell everybody to stay out of there.''
Stewart has tried to enlist the help of local and state officials in cleaning up the dam, which is owned by the city of Harrisonburg.
Assistant City Manager Roger Baker said he didn't know what Harrisonburg could do about the dam since the decision probably would swing on the undetermined cost and permits required for demolishing the structure.
``I don't know of any plans we have for doing anything right now,'' Baker said. ``There've been some questions about what we can actually do ... because anything we do, we're disturbing what's actually there.
``I know the dam is an artificial structure, but anything we do now, we're messing in the stream.''
William L. Woodfin Jr., director of the state Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, wrote Stewart that his department is ``familiar with the Harrisonburg Power Plant dam and the problems it poses to recreational boaters. We, too, hope something can be done to facilitate safe passage for boats and will work with Harrisonburg to that end.''
Larry Mohn, with the game and inland fisheries department in Verona, said he visited the site, ``and it looked pretty bad to us.''
``There's a good path down there for kids to use to get hurt on,'' Mohn added. ``It's certainly a place where somebody could have some problems, with canoeing or swimming or anything.''
LENGTH: Medium: 61 linesby CNB