Potomac Creek Number Two Dam

Can you imagine a dam so controversial it sparks debates decades after its proposal? The Potomac Creek Number Two Dam, though not on the main Potomac River, embodies the complex relationship between development and preservation in this region. The Potomac River basin, home to the nation’s capital, has a history of ambitious reservoir projects. These projects, championed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, aimed to control flooding, ensure a reliable water supply for Washington D.C., and create recreational opportunities. The Potomac Creek Number Two Dam, referenced in the 1963 Potomac River Basin Report as part of a larger plan, highlights this historical context. The report outlined 16 major reservoir projects and numerous smaller ones. This comprehensive plan aimed to address water quality issues stemming from sewage and coal mine drainage upstream. The proposed dams would dilute these pollutants, creating a cleaner water source. They also sought to provide new recreational areas. The Potomac Creek Number Two Dam was one piece of this ambitious puzzle. However, many of these projects faced strong public opposition and were never built. The most notable casualty was the Seneca Dam project. Proposed above Great Falls, its reservoir would have stretched to Harpers Ferry. Public outcry, particularly after the creation of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, led to its demise. Of the major projects proposed in the 1963 report, only the Bloomington Dam came to fruition, now known as Jennings Randolph Lake. The Potomac Creek Number Two Dam, like many others, never materialized. The 1968 report “The Nation’s River” played a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Potomac. It questioned the Corps of Engineers’ dilution strategy and challenged the economic justification of flood control projects in isolation. The report’s focus on comprehensive pollution control measures, combined with the subsequent Clean Water Act, shifted the approach to Potomac River management. This shift in focus, away from large-scale dam projects to pollution control and water conservation, ultimately shaped the fate of the Potomac Creek Number Two Dam, leaving it a silent testament to a pivotal moment in the river’s history.