patapsco river sediment

[THE FISHMAN]

Has any one noticed how the Patapsco river has filled in with sediment this past year? I first noticed this fall trout season above RT 1 in the Avalon area of the state park. It filled in 4 and 5 foot holes and seems to be moving down stream. I put my boat in the tidal portion near SW Area Park/ Belle grove and noticed large sand bars and much shallower water impeading boat traffic in many areas. DNR admitted to me it was from 2 dam removals unleashing 175,000 cubic yds of silt. Bad news is the biggest dam will also be removed shortly sending more silt I was assured it is "good " silt and will eventually flush out of the river.
SO MUCH FOR SAVING THE BAY?

[Capt.Nick]

This is nothing new.There was a 90 acre reservoir in Harford county called Atkisson reservoir.It flows into the Bush River.It's now not much more than a stream from silt fill in from new housing developments up stream.The Gunpowder falls streams(Big & Little) on rte 40 have filled in alot over the years as well as other tidal & free flowing streams & rivers on western side of the the Bay that cascade down from the piedmont to the Bay.In another 100 years,the Susquehanna Flats may be a big sand dune with cactus growing on it.Chesapeake Bay Rivers were very deep in the 16th. century.Many were over 80 ft. deep.The virgin forrests were cut down for lumber and then the land was plowed up for crops,loosening the soil.Normal Eutrification,waterways,lakes&ponds naturally fill in by storms on a much slower timetable without man's help.Leaves from the surrounding trees dropping into the water during fall slowly fill in thev water along with other decaying matter.