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    June  2025
    Centre County

    Improving Habitat

    In 2024, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission removed two dams on Spring Creek in Centre County, the Upper Spring Creek and Benner Springs Dams. 

    Removing these two dams reconnected more than ten miles of upstream habitat for aquatic life on Spring Creek. Those ten miles are the path to improved health and vitality to the stream.

    Before

    Photo Upper Spring Creek Dam with dam pictured before removal. Upper Spring Creek Dam shown before dam was removed.

    After

    Photo of Upper Spring Creek after dam removal shown opening up stream. Upper Spring Creek pictured after dam removal, opening up 2.6 miles of stream.

    Making Better Fisheries

    In 2025, PFBC and partners are building fish habitat structures where the dams once stood to additionally enhance the dam-free environment.  

    For fish, there really is only one route to access different types of habitat, the stream in which they live. Dams block fish and other aquatic life from accessing upstream habitat so removing dams opens up access to critical habitat for the fish life cycle like optimal feeding locations, thermal refugia (spots in the water where water is cooler – important for trout), spawning habitat, and nursery areas.

    While some benefits are immediate, some take years to fully develop like the redistribution of materials downstream. Releasing materials previously trapped behind a dam are helpful to species such as Wild brown trout who use certain materials on streambeds for spawning. Removing a dam also impacts the upstream habitat, creating pools, riffles, and runs. These habitat features are great for trout, where the dam had created slower moving water. 

    Before

    Photo of Benner Spring Dam pictured with dam before removal. Benner Spring Dam on Spring Creek shown before dam was removed.

    After

    Photo of Benner Spring Dam after dam removal and opening up of stream. Benner Spring Dam section of Spring Creek pictured after dam removal, opening up 8.6 miles of stream.

    Timelapse

    Watch a timelapse video on the dam removal process of Upper Spring Creek Dam and Benner Spring Dam on Spring Creek in Centre County, PA.

    Two Dams Gone = Double the Good for Fish

    In 2024, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission removed two dams on Spring Creek in Centre County, the Upper Spring Creek Dam and the Benner Springs Dam. Removing these dams reconnected more than ten miles of upstream habitat for aquatic life on Spring Creek. Those ten miles are the path to improved health and vitality to the stream. In 2025, PFBC staff and partners will build fish habitat structures in the area of the old dams help improve habitat for aquatic life.