List of dam removals in Tennessee
This is a list of dams in Tennessee that have been removed as physical impediments to free-flowing rivers or streams.
Removals by watershed
Cumberland River
Several tributaries of the Cumberland River have seen dam removals. Metro Nashville removed an irrigation dam at McCabe Golf Course from Richland Creek in 2014. A cinder block dam on Sevenmile Creek behind the Edmondson Pike Branch Library was removed in 2015 to support the endangered Nashville crayfish, 580 of which were relocated ahead of demolition.[1] The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere removed two small dams on the Cathy Jo Branch in 2017. Also removed that year was a fish barrier owned by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency meant to keep rough fish from Cordell Hull Lake out of the Roaring River.
Elk River
Proposed removals
The Harms Mill Dam is the only major barrier on the Elk River. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is leading a project to remove the dam, which has been awarded $500,000 from the National Fish Passage Program. This would result in 1,114 mi (1,793 km) stream miles opened to aquatic migration, support the round hickorynut and 45 other species of greatest conservation need, and increase safety for boaters.[2]
Completed removals
Planned and proposed removals
| Dam | Expected year | Location | Watercourse | Watershed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harms Mill Dam[2] | Lincoln County 35°09′02″N 86°38′55″W / 35.1506°N 86.6487°W |
Elk River | Elk River |
See also
- List of dam removals in Alabama
- List of dam removals in Georgia (U.S. state)
- List of dam removals in North Carolina
- List of dam removals in Virginia
References
- ^ Bennett, Macaela (June 18, 2015). "Dam removal protects Nashville endangered species". The Tennessean. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ^ a b "Harm's Mill Dam Removal". FWS.gov. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ^ "American Rivers Dam Removal Database". Figshare. American Rivers. February 13, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.