Human Use of the Dan River

Human Use of the Dan River. Life on the Dan River. , Water attracts all kinds of life, including humans. The Dan River supports our community's economy, provides water to our citizens and attracts visitors to our area.. , Transportation - In the 1700s and early 1800s roads in this area were little more than enlarged foot trails, often impassable because of mud, ice or snow. The Dan River, however, was easily navigated and proved to be a more dependable mode of transporting goods from the "frontier" to the Atlantic. Recognizing the economic importance of the Dan, and its flow to the Albemarle Sound, was the Roanoke Navigation Company and in the 1830s it completed a system of canals and locks that brought manufactured goods from Europe and the East Coast to Danville. A flat bottom boat, called a bateaux, was pulled along with the current downstream or pulled by human labor along tow paths up river bringing pig iron, timber and tobacco from this area to the coast. A bateaux could carry six tons of goods to its destination. Today, we have cars, trains, airplanes and trucks that ship and deliver most of the manufactured goods in our community., Energy - Early industry was drawn to the river for the power that could be used. In 1935 Danville harnessed the Dan's electrical energy by constructing the Pinnacles Hydro-Electric Dam, the Townes Dam, the Talbott Dam and the necessary transmission lines. Today, only about 10% of the city's power comes from the Dan River., Food - Throughout history, the Dan River has served as a rich resource for food. Food webs are closely linked to the river and the plants, micro-flora and fauna and animals that flourish there. During the 1700s and 1800s, fish and freshwater crustaceans attracted early settlers. Today, fishing on the Dan River is still enjoyed by many people. Unfortunately today, problems with chemical contamination from early industry, lack of riparian buffer, modern day industry and agricultural use limit its use as a food supply source., Agriculture - Since man first started farming, the Dan River has served as a source for irrigation. Often re-directed to the fields with pumps or drainage ditches, the river's water provides crops with needed moisture during summer droughts. Today, farms along the Dan River still use it to irrigate their fields and water their herds. Farmers are often called stewards of the river because their livelihood depends on their ability to have clean, fresh water. River protection strategies they might use include no-till, putting fences around streams, planting cover crops, collecting water runoff, and integrating crop and pasture rotations. In addition, smart farmers realize that putting too much pesticide, insecticide and fertilizer on a field does not help the crops and also can harm the environment., Recreation - People have always visited the Dan River for a variety of recreational activities. Canoeists, kayakers, paddleboarders, and boaters enjoy the fast current and quiet pools. Photographers can capture wildflowers, wildlife and memorable sunsets on film. Anglers can enjoy fishing both on the river and on the banks. Today, Danville has river accesses, parks and miles of trails at that meander along the Dan River for people to enjoy.