Connell Lake Dam in Ketchikan, Alaska
The Connell Lake dam is an imposing, almost gothic structure. Weather-worn and cracked in places, it blocks fish passage on Ward Creek. Frequently flagged by federal agencies like NOAA Fisheries, the dam cuts off miles of vital fish habitat. In 1954, the dam served as the backdrop for the climax of the film noir Cry Vengeance . A gun battle took place on top of the dam, and a dummy was thrown…
The Connell Lake dam, an imposing structure in Ketchikan, Alaska, has long posed a challenge to fish migration on Ward Creek. The dam's deteriorating condition, marked by weathering and cracks, has prompted concerns from federal agencies such as NOAA Fisheries. Historically, the dam played a central role in the film Cry Vengeance, with a dramatic gun battle taking place on its top and a villain's demise simulated by throwing a dummy into the waters below.
This site, now part of the Tongass National Forest, once provided millions of gallons of fresh water via a wooden-stave pipeline, remnants of which still lie decayed nearby. The pulp mill operations that surrounded the dam were also the subject of the March 1988 Sports Illustrated exposé, The Forest Service Follies, which highlighted the region's heavy subsidies and ecological strain.
Today, visitors can explore the area through various trails that start at the parking lot, allowing them to traverse the old pipeline corridor, circle the lake, or follow Ward Creek back toward Ward Cove.
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