Biologists search for mussels in Densons Creek, Montgomery County, North Carolina. Finding and identifying mussels prior to dam removal gives biologists a chance to remove rare mussels from the removal area, and it provides a baseline against which post-removal mussel populations can be compared. Credit: Mark Cantrell/USFWS
Two trackhoe excavators pound away at the narrow concrete and rock wall of the decrepit Troy Reservoir Dam No. 1, which stretches across Montgomery County's Densons Creek, a tributary of the Little River. On a nearby bridge a small group gathers to watch their efforts to improve the health of this stream bear fruit.
"Removing this dam is an opportunity to help the town of Troy further enhance Densons Creek's natural aquatic community, in turn helping meet local economic and conservation goals," said U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service biologist Laura Fogo, who has spearheaded the project. "The removal of Troy Reservoir Dam No. 1 is part of a larger, landscape-scale effort to restore the streams of the Little River watershed."
The Troy Reservoir Dam No. 1 reached six feet high and stretched 83 feet across the stream channel. It was built more than fifty years ago to supply water for the town, though it has long since quit serving that purpose. Currently water can flow through and beneath what remains of the dam, however during high flow water builds up behind the concrete and rock wall. The removal of the dam was done in close concert with the town of Troy, which owns the 173-acre nature preserve containing the dam site. In total, the town has protected over 17 miles of stream corridor above and below the removal site, establishing public walking trails which connect to Uwharrie National Forest.
The removal of the Troy Reservoir Dam No. 1, and the recent removal of a privately-owned dam nearby, come after months of work by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, American Rivers, and other partners, including local landowners. Removal of Troy Reservoir Dam No. 1 opens up three miles of stream to fish and other animals whose upstream movement was checked by the decrepit dam.
In removing a decrepit dam, we gain a tremendous amount of habitat restoration for relatively little effort." said U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service biologist Laura Fogo.
American Rivers Lynnette Batt added,"These removals reflect the work of a lot of people, from private landowners to federal agencies, coming together to improve the health of these streams. It's encouraging to see such cooperation for the good of North Carolina rivers."
Decrepit dams can be a safety hazard for paddlers and other river users, and can prevent fish and other aquatic animals from moving up or downstream to take advantage of quality habitat.
For larger, functioning dams, these passage issues can be addressed by the construction of fish ladders, or even elevators, that give fish, both game and non-game, an opportunity to by-pass the dam," explained Mark Cantrell, a biologist with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
