Improvement efforts are nearly complete after construction on the Dunmore No. 7 Reservoir Dam last year caused sediment to rush downstream to Roaring Brook.

SCRANTON, Pa. — Roaring Brook is flowing steadily through Scranton, marking a stark contrast to last year, when construction at the Dunmore No. 7 Reservoir Dam sent a wave of sediment downstream and caused significant damage to the stream’s ecosystem.

On Friday morning, Pennsylvania American Water hosted local leaders and environmental partners at Darcy Park along Roaring Brook to highlight restoration work completed following the incident.



This story continues below.

Daniel Rickard, Pennsylvania American Water’s director of engineering, said the company worked with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the conservation district to restore the stream channel. “What we did here is worked with our partners at the PA DEP and the conservation district to reestablish kind of this channel here of the Roaring Brook,” Rickard said.

Pennsylvania American Water officials said the company has invested more than $20 million to rehabilitate the Dunmore No. 7 Reservoir Dam, including restoration work along Roaring Brook. The project restored and stabilized about 580 feet of stream bank, enhanced aquatic habitat, improved public access, and relocated walking trails. Educational tags highlighting native plants were also installed throughout the area.

One of the project’s key additions is a handicap-accessible fishing pier near the Davis Trail.

“There’s very few opportunities for handicap folks to fish, and there is very few in this area, so we felt that was a very good addition to the community,” said Kurt Staller, Pennsylvania American Water’s manager of dams.

Stairs were also added near the Myrtle Pumping Station, providing visitors with improved access to the water.

David Lewis of the Lackawanna County chapter of Trout Unlimited said the improvements give local families another place to enjoy the brook without traveling far. “Oh! I don’t have to drive far to fish! This is a great spot along the Roaring Brook. Easy access; bring your family. There’s places to sit,” Lewis said.

Pennsylvania American Water officials said the restoration project took a little more than a year to complete.