Highbanks Campground with Sign
1 2018-08-16T15:29:15-07:00 Dana Reijerkerk 3c44fb85ab096c2290175e81dd4f16f0002a41e0 30861 3 Photograph of Highbanks Campground during the winter draw down. The water levels of Ohi:yo' have lowered, exposing part of the shoreline across the river. plain 2018-08-20T19:01:07-07:00 Shannon Seneca, PhD, REHS/RS (Seneca Nation Health System) 2018-08-16 stillimage SNHS-022 rivers, erosion, topography (attribute), independent sovereign nations Seneca-Iroquois National Museum eng Photograph of Highbanks Campground during the winter draw down. The water levels of Ohi:yo' have lowered, exposing part of the shoreline across the river. 42.052822305556,-78.896227277778 born digital electronic image/jpeg Record has been transformed into MODS from the original accession record. Metadata originally created in a locally modified version of qualified Dublin Core. languageOfCataloging authority = "iso639-2b"; dcTerm:language recordCreation Date encoding = "w3cdtf"; dcTerm:date subject authority = "aat"; dcTerm:subject subject authority = "tgn"; dcTerm:coverage dateCreated encoding= "w3cdtf"; dcTerm:temporal New York (state), Cattaraugus (county), Allegany Reservation, Allegany River, Kinzua Reservoir (reservoir) This record was created by Dana Reijerkerk. Watershed Resources Working Group (publisher) Shannon Seneca (photographer) 1 photograph 2017-10-10 Dana Reijerkerk 3c44fb85ab096c2290175e81dd4f16f0002a41e0This page is referenced by:
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2018-08-14T03:03:19-07:00
The Eroding Banks of Ohi:yo'
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One of the main environmental impacts of the dam and reservoir has been severe erosion.
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2018-08-21T15:10:01-07:00
Significant loss of our river's banks has been observed since the creation of the reservoir, which is likely a result of the frequent water level fluctuations, stream direction and velocities, wave action, and geological conditions.
The seasonal lowering and emptying of the water reserves within the reservoir expose land that is unprotected to weather elements for part of the year. This annual exposure makes it difficult for natural vegetation to grow, which increases rates of erosion throughout the reservoir. Additionally, frequent water-level fluctuations (daily) caused by the hydro-power facility operations erodes the entire shoreline. Our culturally important, native plants that grow along Ohi:yo' are also at risk and lost due to erosion. Many of these plant species, such as sassafras, are used by our Seneca people for medicinal purposes.
Erosion at Highbanks has been documented since the 1980s. One of the environmental consequences of the severe erosion at Highbanks has been the loss of two Bald Eagle nesting trees. According to the Watershed Resources Working Group, a technical advisory board to the Seneca Nation's Council, there have been no more reports of nesting activity along Highbanks shoreline.
Highbanks and Highbanks Campground, a popular recreational area along our river, is located on the outer bank of a large bend in Ohi:yo' and sits opposite of Quaker Run. The moving river channel is adjacent to Highbanks boat launch.
