Engineers Once Completely Shut Down The Water Flow At Niagara Falls | Made a Few Grim Discoveries After!
In June 1969, something extraordinary happened at Niagara Falls. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers shut off the water flow to the American Falls, the smaller of the two main waterfalls that make up the iconic Niagara Falls. Ice had previously slowed the falls before. However, this was the first time humans had stepped in to stop the water for a “facelift.” Their goal was to investigate the falls’ stability and explore ways to improve its appearance. There’s even a chance this could happen again in the future. Authorities are considering temporarily shutting off the falls to repair bridges for tourists.
This man-made intervention drew a huge crowd. In just the first week, 100,000 curious spectators came to witness the strange sight of a dry cliff. What they didn’t know was that the engineers would soon make some grim discoveries including two dead bodies. Let’s dive in for the full story.
Niagara Falls: A Tourist Destination and Power Source
Niagara Falls is a natural wonder, but it’s also heavily engineered. Since the late 19th century, hydroelectric power plants have used the immense force of the falls to generate electricity. This created a challenge: how do you balance generating power while preserving the beauty that attracts millions of tourists?
To maintain this balance, a treaty was signed in 1950 between the U.S. and Canada. The Niagara River Diversion Treaty requires that during the peak tourist season (April 1 to September 15, between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.), half of the river’s water must flow over the falls to keep its appearance grand. Outside of those hours, up to three-quarters of the water can be diverted for power generation. This treaty also led to adjustments in the largest of the falls, Horseshoe Falls. Engineers deepened parts of the waterfall and shortened its lip to make it look like more water was flowing over an unbroken edge.
As Daniel Macfarlane, an environmental historian, put it, “Niagara Falls is as much engineered as it is natural.” However, the adjustments to Horseshoe Falls sparked some jealousy on the American side. Most of the stunning Horseshoe Falls are located in Canada. So, the Americans began pushing for their own improvements to the American Falls.
The Looming ‘Death’ of the American Falls
Concerns over the American Falls began to rise after rockfalls in 1931 and 1954. These falls caused large boulders, known as talus, to pile up at the base of the waterfall. In some spots, this rock pile was as high as 10 stories, making the waterfall look less impressive. Cliff Spieler, an editor at The Niagara Falls Gazette, warned that the American Falls might shrink into nothing more than rapids if another rockfall occurred. He called this the “death” of Niagara Falls, and many agreed that something needed to be done.
In the mid-1960s, public hearings were held, and people overwhelmingly supported restoring the falls by removing the rocks. Mayor E. Dent Lackey even declared, “The majority of the people overwhelmingly say that the rockfall does mar the beauty of the Falls.” This public outcry led to the creation of a board by the International Joint Commission to study the issue, and eventually, plans were made to shut off the water in 1969 to see what could be done.
The Great Dewatering
On June 9, 1969, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, along with the Albert Elia Construction Company, built a massive 600-foot-wide cofferdam using 28,000 tons of rock. This dam diverted the water from the American Falls to Horseshoe Falls, leaving the American Falls dry.
While the waterfall stood still, engineers began their investigations. They drilled into the rock to take core samples, used colored dyes to trace water flows through cracks, and installed sensors to measure the stress on the rocks. During this process, they discovered that removing the talus at the base of the falls could cause even more rockfalls, which might lead to a complete collapse of the falls. As Macfarlane explained, “The rock talus was likely holding up the waterfall, so if they took the talus away more rocks would fall.”
Grim Discoveries in the Dried Falls Bed
With the falls dry, the engineers made some unsettling discoveries. They found the bodies of an unidentified man and woman. According to reports from June 1969, the woman’s body had been badly decomposed, and the man had likely jumped from the falls. The exact circumstances of their deaths remain unclear. But their discovery added an eerie atmosphere to the already strange scene.
Beyond the bodies, millions of coins were scattered across the dried riverbed. These coins had been thrown in by tourists over the years, making wishes as they admired the waterfall. For five months, the falls remained dry, and more than 100,000 people visited to see the unusual sight. Many were curious about why the water was stopped and how long it would remain that way.
Why the Falls Were Left as They Were
In 1975, after years of study, the International Joint Commission decided not to remove the talus from the base of the American Falls. Public surveys, costs, and the risk of further damage led to this decision. The talus was actually helping to stabilize the falls, preventing more rocks from collapsing. Instead of removing it, engineers used cement, bolts, and tendons to stabilize the rock structure. Thanks to these measures, no major rocks have fallen since.
There’s a chance the falls could be shut off again in the future, not for another facelift, but to repair bridges that allow tourists to visit Goat Island. This means we might see a repeat of history, with the falls standing eerily dry once again.
Conclusion
Niagara Falls is a perfect example of the tension between human intervention and nature. Over the years, engineers have had to find a balance between preserving the falls’ natural beauty and using its power for industrial purposes. The 1969 dewatering project showed that while human actions can stabilize and preserve natural wonders, they come at a cost.
As we look to the future, we may once again see the water stop flowing at Niagara Falls, offering another opportunity to learn from and preserve this iconic natural wonder.
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