Save our Dam

Save our Dam!

Lake Solitude Dam, High Bridge, New Jersey

10 Most Endangered Sites in New Jersey

Curious about Costs:

Unfortunately, alot of misinformation has been presented as fact. Saving our Dam requires minimal dredging and would cost 2.9 million dollars. Breaching our Dam requires full dredging and would cost taxpayers 5. 6 MILLION DOLLARS.

Full dredging is not required by Saving our Dam.

Saving our Dam is almost 3 MILLION DOLLARS CHEAPER:

DOWNLOAD THE PERMIT APPLICATION BELOW: SEE FOR YOURSELF

LAKE SOLITUDE 1.pdf

It would take 600-700 Years in MAINTENANCE,LIABILITY AND INSPECTION COSTS TO REACH THE COST FOR BREACHING

Curious about the Ecological Effect of Dam Removal:

Frontiers.pdf

KNOW THE TRUTH

SAVE OUR DAM

"This landmark puts you on the map"

From a recent comment to SAVE OUR DAM .

The Borough of High Bridge needs your help to Save Lake Solitude and the Falls!

Thus far, no decision has been made by High Bridge Mayor & Council as to whether High Bridge will save the lake and dam, or breach the dam and convert the lake to a river. Many feel we have heard no information thus far compelling enough to favor removing the dam, and our elected officials now need to declare their intention to save the dam so we can all work toward that goal A united show of support could be vital to saving the dam and lake. Help send the Mayor and Council the clear message that YOU support preservation of this unique High Bridge landmark. Built in 1858, updated in 1909 by Master Engineer, Frank S. Tainter, and eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, the Lake Solitude Dam is the last remaining buttress dam in the State of New Jersey,

Please send a message containing your name and address to solitudehousemuseum@hotmail.com . The information will be appended to a letter to the Mayor and Council urging them to declare their support for saving the dam, and moving this process forward so we can work toward acquiring funding for remediation.

Enter "Save Lake Solitude and Dam" in the Subject Line of your email.

The 2008 10 Most Endangered List draws attention to remarkable sites and to their many challenges. Preservation NJ hopes that listing them will be a catalyst for change and positive solutions can be found for their preservation.

The last known remaining New Jersey example of an I-beam dam, Lake Solitude Dam, built in 1909 by master engineer Frank S. Tainter, to provide hydro-electric power for the Taylor-Wharton Iron and Steel Company, a prominent munitions manufacturer whose history spans from the American Revolutionary War through the Korean War.

The dam holds significance for its civil engineering design and for the role that it played in permitting Taylor-Wharton ironworks, downstream, to expand. Both the dam and 35-acre Lake Solitude, created by the dam, are eligible for listing in the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places individually as well as part of a possible larger industrial historic district and the Taylor Iron Workers Historical Greenway connecting Columbia Trail to the Amesbury Furnace.

While the dam’s history is acknowledged, borough officials grapple with the cost of repairing the 1909 dam or breaching it. Interestingly, there is renewed interest in rebuilding a hydroelectric plant at Lake Solitude dam, however no firm proposals have been made. The Mayor and Council put 13 years of effort into purchasing the property and $200,000+ in remediation plans, resulting now in full DEP approval. Unfortunately, the Borough Council has until August 2008 to act.

Through this long time period as elected officials have come and gone, sentiments have changed and some now believe that although breaching costs upfront are greater, they advocate that it is more cost-effective measure in the long term with no annual maintenance or inspection costs. Some favor returning the river to its natural course, one it has not taken since 1858.

However, breaching would not only create a long-term historical loss, it would drain Lake Solitude, a High Bridge landmark, and destroy the natural habitat for wildlife dependent upon the lake. Additionally, financial costs would be incurred for then dredging, silt and contaminated soils removal that would not be incurred were the dam to remain intact.

Preservation of the Lake Solitude Dam and Lake is an important linkage to not only High Bridge’s past but to a 6-mile hiking trail linking the borough’s open spaces. It is far more cost-effective, can do nothing but spur tourism and local business, and has the potential to revert to its historical origins by providing hydroelectric power

http://preservationnj.org/ten_most/ten_most_property_detail.asp?COUNTY=Hunterdon%20County&PropID=151

Leading columnist Bill Wolfe talks about Lake Solitude and Dam, hydropower plus provides great photos of High Bridge -Friday May 10th, 2008

http://www.nj.com/njvoices/index.ssf/2008/05/solitude.html

RECENT COMMENTS FOR MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO SAVE OUR DAM:

Forgetting that fact that saving the dam is cheaper than breaching
the dam; and forgetting the fact that a new dam can supply
hydro-electric power (however minimal); and forgetting the fact that
it is a historic-site ~ save the dam and it's environment
for the eagles who have graced us with their presence.

"Please accept this as our family's vote to repair the dam, which is essential to preserving a large piece of High Bridge's history, both in the dam itself and the beauty of the lake and surrounding area"

"I was born and raised in High Bridge NJ and spent many summers swimming in the lake and winters skating on it. I fully support saving the dam and the lake. It's part of the history of High Bridge and the memories of many."

"Please add my name to your petition. I fully support preservation of the dam. "

" I would like the mayor and council of High Bridge to know that I support the effort to preserve Solitude Dam and Lake Solitude."

"I would like to add my name and support to preserve the High Bridge dam. On Easter Sunday, I took my (extended)family on a walk on the Columbia Trail. They had a chance to stand on top of the hill and look at the dam and waterfall. I explained how it used to supply hydroelectric power to the Taylor Wharton factory, and they were quite impressed with the dam's history and how beautiful the waterfall is. I would like to keep the dam intact"

Breaks my heart to see there are residents that don't care about their town's unique history. Save the Dam for future generations! What's lost cannot be gotten back.

" I would also point out the potential for renewable energy to be generated from the project. I strongly believe in protection of special resources: environmental, scenic, and historic. I believe that in rebuilding the dam, there will be balance between the need for protection of those resources.

"Hi Mayor and Council, I just am sending you this note to let you know that I would like you to save the dam. Please do everything you can to preserve it as it makes High Bridge beautiful."

"Greetings. I'd like to request the support of High Bridge Mayor and Council in preserving Lake Solitude and the dam. I also believe that the possibility of using the dam as a source of renewable energy and hydroelectric power should be seriously explored by Mayor and Council."

"Lake Solitude and Dam are part of the history of the town and are beautiful. Please save the lake and dam"

"I support the citizens of High Bridge who are interested in saving Lake Solitude Dam.

"Please save the Dam in High Bridge. I live in near by Clinton twp and love to walk the Columbia Trail, Ken Lockwood Gorge and enjoy the surrounding wildlife. The 1909 dam should be retained and placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Please make sure my name is added to the letter to Council in support of saving the dam.

"Every visitor that I have ever encountered at Solitude absolutely fell in love with the falls. I hope and pray that the lake and dam will remain and that you will be in agreement with the important decisions that you are facing. It is not an easy task, and I would like to thank you for all the work that you do to try to work out a budget for the residents of High Bridge. "

"Please save the dam. It is a symbol of High Bridge past and present."

"Please include mine and my husband name to your message to the Mayor and council in support of saving our dam"

"I am in support of maintaining the Dam and Lake Solitude. I hope the grant that I recently read about from Senator Lance is directed to the preservation of this vital section of High Bridge. If we breached this dam there will be regrets and no going back. I support converting the dam to produce Hydroelectricity especially if it will assist maintaining a Green High Bridge"

" Together the dam and Lake Solitude are valuable assets to the community that should both be saved and preserved.

"Please, please save our Lake and Dam. I have lived here for 40 years, and I do not want to to lose our most valuable resource. I support reusing the dam for hydroelectric power also. "

"I am a High Bridge Taxpayer and fully support saving the lake and dam. When is the Taylor SteelWorkers Greenway opening?"

"This landmark puts you on the map, destroy it and you might as well be Perth Amboy West"

"High Bridge Mayor and Council take a stand for once, investigate HydroElectric, but Save Lake Solitude and Dam"

Please add my name to those who cherish the history of this ancient county.

Taylor - Wharton Co. is possessed of an incredible history , not only in New Jersey but the United States . Part of this rich history is the creation of the buttress dam at High Bridge. It represented the progressive thinking of business at that time. Harnessing water power has always been one of man's great accomplishments. It was utilization of that power for industry that catapulted this Country to the greatest manufacturing Country on the earth.

To even think of breeching that dam is to rob New Jersey and this Country of a component of our industrial history. Future generations will not easily forgive destruction of America's manufacturing background. It's difficult to study and understand what is no longer there.

Yes, there will be nay sayers, but you must prevail. What you do is for our progeny.

High Bridge, during this time of valid environmental concerns is presented with a once-in - a - lifetime challenge to go green. Money is there in the form of Government grants, expertise is available. Do what is right, vote to save the last buttress dam in New Jersey.

SAVE OUR DAM.COM

NEW JERSEY STATE ASSEMBLY : Bill A1941 (Oliver, Giblin,Karrow, Doherty, Evans as Primary Sponsors)

SUMMARY: Appropriates $7 million in 1992 bond act monies for loans to fund dam restoration projects.

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/A2000/1941_I1.HTM

NEW JERSEY STATE SENATE : Bill S1310 (Lance, Gordon and Smith as Primary Sponsors)

UNITED STATES SENATE : Bill -S.2238

Title: Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act

SUMMARY: A bill to amend the National Dam Safety Program Act to establish a program to provide grant assistance to States for the rehabilitation and repair of deficient dams.
Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 10/25/2007) Cosponsors (7)
Related Bills: H.R.389, H.R.3224

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:S.2238:

Latest Major Action: 10/25/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Please do your part by adding your name and address to the letter to Mayor & Council.

Your opinion counts now, more than ever.

Let us not be known as the generation who lost our most precious resource-

HYDROELECTRIC POWER:HOW IT WORKS (USGS)

http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/hyhowworks.html

ABOUT HIGH BRIDGE HISTORIC SITES:

http://www.hmdb.org/results.asp?SearchFor=%22high+bridge%22

HIGH BRIDGE OPEN SPACE: