Removal of Two Dams at the Piccadilly HOA: Strategies for Successful Engagement and Communication
Gray Perry
Cumberland River Compact
Nashville, TN
In 2023, the Cumberland River Compact (CRC) partnered with the Piccadilly HOA and the City of Nashville’s Metro Water Services (MWS) to remove two in-line detention ponds on an unnamed tributary to Franklin Branch in Nashville, TN. This stream lies within the Mill Creek Watershed and is home to the Nashville Crayfish (Faxonius shoupi), a federally-endangered crayfish species. The project aims to restore stream function and improve aquatic organism passage along this ~1,400 linear-foot reach by removing the two impoundments, realigning the channel with its historic course, installing grade controls (constructed riffles), and restoring the riparian zones with a mix of native herbaceous plants, shrubs, and trees.
The dams were initially permitted and constructed in the mid-1980’s as detention ponds for the Piccadilly HOA neighborhood. Over time, MWS recognized that in-line detention was not best-practice for stormwater management due to their impairment of streams’ health. MWS has received numerous complaints from the neighborhood about foul odors, mosquitoes, and the ponds’ condition; however, they are located on HOA property and responsibility for maintenance and rehabilitation falls to the HOA. CRC assessed the restoration potential of the stream in the mid-2000’s and again in 2023. To date, one of the dams is breached, and the other shows signs of eventual failure. Both dams have filled with unconsolidated sediment, significantly reducing their stormwater storage capacities. In 2023, CRC received funding from the American Rescue Plan to remove both dams and restore the stream to its original condition.
This presentation will discuss CRC’s outreach and engagement with the community and project partners to bring this project to fruition. Over the past several years, CRC has worked with the HOA to educate members about 1) dams, their impairments, and benefits of removal, 2) re-form the HOA board, 3) sign an access agreement, 4) provide bilingual communication to this diverse community through letters, and 5) host in-person meetings to review questions and concerns about the project from the community. These efforts have cultivated community support and will culminate with the final completion of the project by the end of 2026.
About Gray Perry
Gray Perry is the Watershed Science and Restoration Program Manager at the Cumberland River Compact. Gray started at the Compact in 2017 as an Americorps member, and after completing his term, he has continued to support the Compact’s work through a variety of roles. He currently manages restoration projects to improve the health of streams, rivers, and wetlands throughout the Cumberland River Basin. Gray has an M.S. in geosciences from Middle Tennessee State University and a B.S. in geology and environmental studies from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He received the MTSU Department of Geosciences Outstanding Graduate Student Award in 2023 as well as the UTK Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences Jimmy Walls Geology Award in 2014. Before joining the stream restoration team in an official capacity, he worked as the Compact’s volunteer program manager and grant manager. In his free time, Gray likes to play music, ride his bike, hike, camp, and play board games with friends and family.