In Pennsylvania and across the country, many man-made dams and reservoirs have been built for various purposes such as
flood control, power generation, and drinking water storage. There are vast environmental consequences to these dams. Downstream water flow is restricted. They block passage for aquatic life, damage natural wetlands, and allow sediment buildup in waterways. However, the surrounding area around the dams and reservoirs has often been preserved for recreational use or as passive open space. They provide wildlife habitat and stopover points for migratory waterfowl, often within densely populated areas. Artificial dams are contradictions, permanently shaping the land and waterways, fostering the preservation of open space, and causing ecological destruction at the same time.

​This portfolio consists of photographs of the Pine Run Reservoir and Dam in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, from November
2021.