Middle Fork of the New River Restoration & Tate Dam Removal

Adam Williams, PE
Brushy Fork Environmental Consulting, Inc.
Trade, TN

Tate Dam was installed in 1922 along the Middle Fork of the New River to provide power to ASU and nearby residents. Damaged in the 1940s, and eventually breached in the 1970s, the dam stood as a barrier to fish migration and sediment transport until 2020. With the concrete beginning to fail, funding was gathered to remove the dam and reestablish the Middle Fork of the New River to a natural stream and floodplain system. The process to go from concept to construction was long and arduous. The project was sure to be in the spotlight and several stakeholders wanted to make sure their concerns were addressed in the final design. Ultimately, a design was approved, funding secured, and a contractor selected. The question of “how does one remove 40 feet of saturated sediment” was ultimately answered with, “very carefully”. Construction issues arose as bedrock was located. The design adjusted, the construction was ultimately completed, and the trout were none the wiser. Then as it always does, a bankfull event swept through the new stream and exposed all of the weaknesses. A few lessons learned and a little rebuilding later, the Middle Fork of the New River is stable and returned to its original glory.

About Adam Williams, PE

Adam is the owner of Brushy Fork Environmental Consulting, Inc. and has been working in the field of ecological restoration for over 20 years. He specializes in stream restoration on high gradient mountain streams in NC, TN, and VA. He has a broad array of expertise in all aspects of restoration ranging from assessment through design and implementation. During his career, Adam has become adept at working with stakeholders and grant funding entities to navigate a breadth of projects on both large and small scales.