NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Dam Removal-Yaphank Lakes
•Impact on
Target Plant Species- significant
in channel, unknown out
•Impact on
Native Plant Species-
–Lower Lake elimination in and outside
channel
–Upper Lake elimination outside channel
pondweeds,
naiads- significant in channel
naiads,
worts- moderate in channel
•Impact on
Native Animal Species- eliminate
benthos outside channel
significant
impact inside channel
•Post-Treatment
Plant Coverage
–treatment
zone- emergent vegetation
will take over
–outside
treatment zone- low to
moderate inside channel
•Water quality
changes heavy turbidity
during removal
improved
oxygenation after removal
•Ecological
impacts shift from sub to
emergent vegetation
shift
from benthic to wetland inverts
•Downstream
impacts heavy turbidity and
flow post-removal
shift
in downstream ecological comm.
•Potential for
regrowth
–within
treatment zone- low to
moderate
–from outside
treatment zone- very low
•Recreational
Impacts During Treatment
–within
treatment zone- lost lake
and access
shift
in boating/angling use
•Likelihood of
Suboptimal Results low to
moderate