FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, the Nature Conservancy and other partners have broken ground on a project aimed at restoring the natural flow of the Elk River.

Removal of the Harm's Mill Dam started Monday, meaning that access to the site will be closed until the project is complete. Agencies have targeted mid-November for the completion of this project.

The dam was targeted for removal in the late 2010s by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Funding was secured in 2023 through the National Fish Passage Program. The dam itself, along with an adjacent powerhouse in Lincoln County, was built in the early 1920s by the Fayetteville Light and Power Company.

Though both sites have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places for engineering and commercial significance, the TWRA said in a press release that both structures have come into disrepair and have outlived their original purpose.

The structures act as the only major barrier along the Elk River, and the TWRA said they obstruct fish migration, disrupt the natural environment and limit recreational use. The Elk River is a 195-mile-long tributary of the Tennessee River, and it's known for its fishing, paddling and wildlife habitat.

“Forty-six species of greatest conservation need living in the Elk River will benefit from the removal of the dam, including 19 species that are federally protected,” Josh Campbell, TWRA Chief of Biodiversity, said. “The Elk River is a biologically diverse river system, harboring numerous species of fish, mussels and aquatic snails. The boulder darter, a small olive to gray colored fish, approximately three inches long, has been of particular concern over the years and is protected by the Endangered Species Act.”

Once the dam is removed, the project will reconnect 1,114 miles of stream. The restored river will offer a safer experience for recreational users from anglers to kayakers and enhance ecological health by allowing aquatic species to freely pass.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/harms-mill-dam-elk-river-twra/