Ossipee Mill Dam Removal

Providing ecological uplift for nearly three miles of stream
in rural North Carolina

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RESTORING A RIVER, CONNECTING A LANDSCAPE

Unique Places to Save is proud to serve as the project manager and dam removal expert for the Ossipee Mill Dam Removal, just northwest of Burlington, NC along the Reedy Fork, a tributary of the Haw River. This transformative project will restore natural river flow to over 13,800 linear feet of Reedy Fork.

By removing this obsolete dam, this project will not only improve aquatic habitat connectivity and restore natural river processes, but also serve as a model for combining dam removals and mitigation banking for impactful ecological restoration.

The Ossipee Mill Dam, built in the late 1800s and last used for industrial purposes in the 1970s, has long altered the Reedy Fork’s natural dynamics. The structure impedes sediment transport, blocks aquatic species movements, and likely contributes to degraded water quality in the impounded area.

The removal of the dam is a critical first step in restoring the ecological integrity of this reach of the river and enhancing the overall resilience of the Cape Fear River Basin.

32

Potential Total Acres Conserved

342

Miles of Connected River Network

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CONSERVE

This project will permanently protect riparian buffers at the project site and along portions of the current impoundment. Conserving riparian buffers ensures floodplain processes such as nutrient uptake and cycling are protected and continue to support water quality and ecosystem health.

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Conserved
Land

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Water Quality Protection

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RESTORE

The Ossipee Mill Dam Removal Project will restore the natural flow of water and sediment along the Reedy Fork and re-establish stream habitats features. In addition, riparian buffer areas will be replanted with native species in un-vegetated or disturbed areas.

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Native Riparian Vegetation

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Natural River Flow

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Transport Sediment

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Habitat Features

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HABITAT

Removing the Ossipee Mill Dam will allow fish, mussels, and other aquatic species to move freely through this reach for the first time in over a century. It will re-establish riverine habitat features and improve water flow and oxygen levels, creating conditions that support native riverine wildlife.

The restored river will support species like the Eastern Creekshell mussel and provide vital habitat for fish that rely on clean, connected streams to survive.

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Eastern Creekshell

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Fantail Darter

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Project Gallery

Ossipee Mill Dam Project Information

Unique Places to Save is working in collaboration with Glen Raven, Inc. (landowner and bank sponsor), our mitigation banking partner RestorEcology and on the regulatory side, an interagency review team (IRT) led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to ensure the project meets all ecological, regulatory, and conservation objectives. 

Our project team combines technical expertise in ecology, hydrology, mitigation, dam removal, regulatory compliance, and project management to help ensure this project is completed successfully.

Some of the benefits of the project include:

  • Reconnection of aquatic habitat for fish and freshwater mussels (including the Eastern Creekshell).
  • Re-establishment of natural water flow and stream habitat features, including riffles, runs, and pools.

Protection of vegetated riparian buffers that support water quality. Whether you're a landowner, agency partner, or conservation ally, we welcome your interest in the Ossipee Mill Dam Removal or our broader portfolio of restoration and conservation projects.

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Let's Work Together

Whether you're a landowner, agency partner, or conservation ally, we welcome your interest in the Ossipee Mill Dam Removal or our broader portfolio of restoration and conservation projects.

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