---
title: Hoosier Dam Removal | Rocky River North Carolina | Unique Places to Save
description: The Hoosier Dam removal project was an unprecedented collaboration on the Rocky River North Carolina to restore the river and benefiting local ecosystems
image: https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/hoosier%20dam%20removal%20project%20north%20carolina.jpg
---

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# Hoosier Dam Removal

### Unprecedented collaboration to remove a 235-foot dam along the Rocky River in Chatham County NC

**Here you can edit the background of the section**

![service 1 d\_tall](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/service%201%20d_tall.png) ![service 1 m](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/Image%20Dividers/service%201%20m.png)

![restore-habitat-badge](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/restore-habitat-badge.png "restore-habitat-badge")

## HELPING THE ROCKY RIVER FLOW FREELY

Hoosier Dam was a concrete buttress dam with an attached hydroelectric powerhouse on the Rocky River in Chatham County, North Carolina.

In 2016 our partners applied for and received a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant to complete the environmental, engineering, and construction related components of dam removal. After an extensive permitting and design period the dam was finally ready to be removed in the fall of 2018. The project partners started preliminary demolition work in September 2018. The USFWS Fish Passage team worked with our other partners to conduct the demolition of the dam in late October 2018.

As of November 2018, the Hoosier Dam has been removed and the Rocky River now flows unobstructed! You can view photos of the work on the dam and a short video showing progress in our media galleries below. We would like to thank the following partners, funders and others who made this project a success!

### 16,000

Linear Feet of the Rocky River Restored

### 20

Acres of Streambank Replanted

### 253

Miles of Aquatic Network Reconnected

### 2

Federally-Listed Species Supported

![top tall green 1 d](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/top%20tall%20green%201%20d.png) ![top tall green 1 m](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/top%20tall%20green%201%20m.png)

![restore-1-badge](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/restore-1-badge.png "restore-1-badge")

## RESTORE

Removal of Hoosier Dam resulted in considerable gains in aquatic connectivity and complexity. Over 250 miles of aquatic upstream network were reconnected to over 1,100 miles of downstream, unobstructed aquatic network. In addition, dewatering Reeve’s Lake, the impoundment behind the former dam, addressed some water quality issues such as thermal stratification. Finally, natural river flows and sediment transport were reestablished through dam removal.

This project also included efforts to restore streambank habitat with native woody species. Multiple planting efforts were performed to help facilitate river equilibrium.

![river](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/river.png?width=64&height=64&name=river.png)   
Natural River Flow

![habitat](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/habitat.png?width=64&height=64&name=habitat.png)   
Healthy Habitats

![sediment](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/sediment.png?width=64&height=64&name=sediment.png)   
Transport Sediment

 

![IMG\_1216](https://43952016.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/43952016/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/IMG_1216.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=IMG_1216.jpg)

![IMG\_2624](https://43952016.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/43952016/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/IMG_2624.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=IMG_2624.jpg)

![IMG\_1329](https://43952016.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/43952016/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/IMG_1329.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=IMG_1329.jpg)

![high falls dam removal deep river nc](https://43952016.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/43952016/hubfs/high%20falls%20dam%20removal%20deep%20river%20nc.png?width=1200&length=1200&name=high%20falls%20dam%20removal%20deep%20river%20nc.png)

![habitat-1-badge](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/habitat-1-badge.png "habitat-1-badge")

## HABITAT

This project supported two federally-listed aquatic species, the [Cape Fear Shiner](https://www.fws.gov/species/cape-fear-shiner-notropis-mekistocholas) and [Harperella](https://www.fws.gov/species/harperella-ptilimnium-nodosum), an aquatic plant. Both of these species are threatened by aquatic barriers, like dams, because they prevent dispersal and destroy shallow water habitats.

![fish](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/fish.png?width=64&height=64&name=fish.png)  
Cape Fear Shiner

![harparella species](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/harperella_species.png?width=64&height=64&name=harperella_species.png)   
Harperella

![bottom green 1 d](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/bottom%20green%201%20d.png) ![bottom green 1 m](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/bottom%20green%201%20m.png)

## Project Gallery

- ![Hoosier1](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/Hoosier1.png?width=600&height=455&name=Hoosier1.png)
- ![IMG\_2624](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/IMG_2624.jpg?width=2500&height=1875&name=IMG_2624.jpg)
- ![IMG\_1368](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/IMG_1368.jpg?width=1280&height=960&name=IMG_1368.jpg)
- ![IMG\_1197](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/IMG_1197.jpg?width=1280&height=960&name=IMG_1197.jpg)
- ![IMG\_1251](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/IMG_1251.jpg?width=1280&height=960&name=IMG_1251.jpg)
- ![IMG\_1329](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/IMG_1329.jpg?width=1280&height=960&name=IMG_1329.jpg)
- ![IMG\_1216](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/IMG_1216.jpg?width=1280&height=960&name=IMG_1216.jpg)
- ![IMG\_1277](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/IMG_1277.jpg?width=960&height=1280&name=IMG_1277.jpg)
- ![IMG\_1306](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/IMG_1306.jpg?width=960&height=1280&name=IMG_1306.jpg)
- ![IMG\_1359](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/IMG_1359.jpg?width=960&height=1280&name=IMG_1359.jpg)

![home 5 d](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/Image%20Dividers/home%205%20d.png) ![home 5 m](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/Image%20Dividers/home%205%20m.png)

## ![IMG\_1197](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/IMG_1197.jpg?width=564&height=423&name=IMG_1197.jpg)The Hoosier Dam Removal Project

Hoosier Dam was a concrete buttress dam with an attached hydroelectric powerhouse on the Rocky River in Chatham County, NC. The dam was built in 1922 and produced power until January 2016 when a fire destroyed the primary 150KW generator.  Constructed of river stone and reinforced concrete, the dam had a total length of 235 feet and an average structural height of 25 feet. 

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) designated sections of the Rocky River upstream and downstream from Hoosier Dam, as well as a section of Bear Creek just below the dam, as Critical Habitat for the Cape Fear Shiner, a federally listed endangered species. The non-impounded sections of the Rocky River and Bear Creek exhibit very high-quality riverine habitat that supports a diverse collection of aquatic species including the Cape Fear Shiner and other species of concern. The dam represented a significant blockage to fish migration and as a result, USFWS has documented declines in the disconnected population upstream of the dam.

In 2016 our partners applied for and received a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant to complete the environmental, engineering, and construction related components of dam removal.  After an extensive permitting and design period the dam was finally ready to be removed in the fall of 2018.  The project partners started preliminary demolition work in September 2018. The USFWS Fish Passage team worked with our other partners to conduct the demolition of the dam in late October 2018.

As of November 2018, the Hoosier Dam has been removed and the Rocky River of North Carolina now flows unobstructed! You can view photos of the work on the dam and a short video showing progress in our media galleries below.  We would like to thank the following partners, funders and others who made this project a success!

 

##### Project Partners & Funders

- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Funder
- United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Partner and Funder
- Unique Places, LLC, Partner
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Partner
- NC State Historic Preservation Office, Partner
- Wildlands Engineering, Partner
- Arcadian Construction, Partner
- NC Wildlife Resources Commission, Partner
- 130 of Chatham LLC, Partner
- Emily Wells, USFWS

- Sara Ward, USFWS
- Sarah McRae, USFWS
- David Hinton, Dam Manager & Historian
- Hal Jones, USFWS Fish Passage Team
- Cory Gullett, USFWS Fish Passage Team
- Vann Stancil, NCWRC
- Brena Jones, NCWRC
- John Hutton, Wildlands Engineering
- Angela Allen, Wildlands Engineering

![service 3 d](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/Image%20Dividers/service%203%20d.png) ![service 3 m](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/Image%20Dividers/service%203%20m.png)

## HEALTHY RIVERS SUPPORT STRONG COMMUNITIES

[![A person kayaking away down a green, tree shaded river.](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/photo%20of%20person%20kayaking%20on%20a%20wild%20scenic%20river.jpg)](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/the-enduring-impact-of-wild-and-scenic-rivers-act-part-two)

##### [The Enduring Impact of Wild and Scenic Rivers Act - Part Two](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/the-enduring-impact-of-wild-and-scenic-rivers-act-part-two)

[Learn More ![](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/arrow-right%20copy.png)](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/the-enduring-impact-of-wild-and-scenic-rivers-act-part-two)

[![An aerial view of a braided river delta, with pale silt channels meeting turquoise water.](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/photo%20of%20a%20river%20delta%20and%20river%20ecology.jpg)](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/river-mouths-part-three-on-river-ecology-conservation)

##### [River Mouths: Part Three on River Ecology & Conservation](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/river-mouths-part-three-on-river-ecology-conservation)

[Learn More ![](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/arrow-right%20copy.png)](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/river-mouths-part-three-on-river-ecology-conservation)

[![A person kayaking away down a green, tree shaded river.](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/photo%20of%20person%20kayaking%20on%20a%20wild%20scenic%20river.jpg)](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/the-enduring-impact-of-wild-and-scenic-rivers-act-part-one)

##### [The Enduring Impact of Wild and Scenic Rivers Act - Part One](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/the-enduring-impact-of-wild-and-scenic-rivers-act-part-one)

[Learn More ![](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/arrow-right%20copy.png)](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/the-enduring-impact-of-wild-and-scenic-rivers-act-part-one)

[![A close view of clear water flowing over coloured pebbles.](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/photo%20of%20clean%20surface%20water.jpg)](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/the-untapped-power-of-protecting-surface-water)

##### [The Untapped Power of Protecting Surface Water](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/the-untapped-power-of-protecting-surface-water)

[Learn More ![](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/arrow-right%20copy.png)](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/the-untapped-power-of-protecting-surface-water)

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