Veterans Memorial Park Dam Removal Project

The Veterans Memorial Park Dam Removal Project is located in the Town of Rocky Mount, Franklin County, Virginia. The dam is located immediately adjacent to Veterans Memorial Park on the Pigg River, and is approximately 80 feet wide and 6 feet tall. Local citizens routinely visit the park and use it as an access point to fish for rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, rock bass, and largemouth bass. The Pigg River is classified as a Trout Heritage Water by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The federally listed endangered Roanoke logperch is also found in this section of the Pigg River.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) in cooperation with the Town of Rocky Mount, is proposing removal of the dam to restore fish passage for the Roanoke logperch, an important activity to aid in recovery of the species. Restoring connectivity of the upstream and downstream sections of the Pigg River will also benefit the game fish. In addition, the project will eliminate a safety hazard for recreational boaters as well as anglers. Completely removing the dam will cost considerably less than retrofitting the dam to eliminate the dangerous hydraulic in front of the dam. The project will also add stream miles to the Franklin County blueway system. The blueway currently ends 850 feet upstream of the dam and removal of the dam will extend the blueway.

The Town of Rocky Mount is the owner of the dam and the Service is responsible for project management and construction supervision. The Service is funding the removal of the dam, and the Town of Rocky Mount will fund bank stabilization and vegetative buffer plantings after removal is complete. Work on the project is expected to be completed Fall 2013.

Photo looking upstream at Veterans Memorial Park dam
Looking Upstream at Veterans Memorial Park Dam