Removal of Rains Dam on Little River Branch of Neuse River

On December 1, 1999 combat engineers from the Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina, used C-4 plastic explosives to blast a very large hole in the 250 foot-long, 12 foot high Rain's Dam. The initial blast was viewed appreciatively by the Secretary of the Interior, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, (Installations and Environment), Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, media representatives and members of the public from a bunker on a earthen knoll 100 yards away. Three more days of blasting reduced the 71 year old dam to rubble which was then removed by a contractor working under the direction of the North Carolina Division of Water Resources. The exposed mud flats were planted with bald cypress and Atlantic white cedar with help from the North Carolina State University Department of Horticulture.

Rains Dam on the Little River blocked access to 49 miles of spawning habitat that had been delineated by GIS for 6 species of anadromous fish and the removal of the dam re-established this area as important spawning and rearing habitat for these fish. The anadromous fish that benefitted are Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), American shad (Alosa sapidissima), Hickory shad (Alosa mediocris), Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhynchus), Shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) and Striped bass (Morone saxatilis). One of these, the shortnose sturgeon is also federally listed as endangered. This project complemented two other dam removal projects (Quaker Neck Dam Removal and Cherry Hospital Dam Removal) that restored access to 1000 miles and 54 miles of anadromous fish spawning habitat respectively.

Populations of the federally listed endangered Dwarf wedge mussel and the federally listed endangered Tar River spinymussel have been found in the Little River approximately eight miles upstream of the project area. Additionally, populations of dwarf wedge mussel have also been found downstream of the Rains Dam in the Little River and its tributaries. These species require flowing water and had been extirpated from the 28-acre lake impounded by the Rains Mill Dam. Removal of the dam allowed reoccupation of 11 miles of the Little River and re-established genetic exchange between upstream and downstream populations that are currently isolated from each other.

Other rare animals that benefitted from the project and are listed below by group along with explanations of how they would benefit.

RARE FISH:  Carolina madtom (Noturus furiosus) - Appears to be a declining species throughout its range.  Removal of the dam
increased available habitat.  This is a lotic species.  Found above and below dam.

RARE AMPHIBIAN:  Neuse River waterdog (Necturus lewisi) - Good
population in the Little River.  Removal of the dam increased available habitat.  Found above and
below dam.

RARE MUSSELS: 
    
All these mussels are lotic species.  Removal of the dam increased and improved available habitat and increased genetic exchange throughout the species' ranges.  Most of these species are only found above the previous reservoir for this dam.  The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission's Non-Game Program (personal communication John Alderman) considered the dam removal essential for the long-term survival and health of these rare mussel species.

Coastal America provided the framework that allowed the military to work with state and federal agencies and the public to accomplish the removal which had been proposed  as a prioritized environmental restoration project by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Coastal Program. Dam removals are multi-disciplinary efforts that must address engineering, biological, legal, and social
issues beyond the capabilities of any one agency, or public group. Partners in this project included  the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service , U.S. Marine Corps , U.S. Army Corps of Engineers , National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and owners of the dam and adjacent lands. The state of North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources led the overall team effort.  Using the Coastal America  framework allowed individual partners to contribute in areas of individual strengths,  thus creating a very effective synergy for river restoration.

A video file of the dam removal ceremony and explosion can be accessed at http://nc-es.fws.gov/coastal/rmdam.mpeg

For additional information on this web page contact Mike Wicker at mike_wicker@fws.gov.

Visit the North Carolina Ecological Services Home Page
Visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Home Page

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