The albright power station DAM removal project on the cheat river will improve watershed connectivity, water quality, sensitive species population health, and flood and climate resiliency for the…

The albright power station DAM removal project on the cheat river will improve watershed connectivity, water quality, sensitive species population health, and flood and climate resiliency for the cheat river and its communities through the removal of an obsolete lowhead DAM. The project will reconnect 75 miles of mainstem habitat and hundreds of miles of tributary rivers and streams for sensitive species, such as eastern hellbender, freshwater mussels, walleye, and brook trout. Currently, the albright power station DAM blocks native walleye from recolonizing the cheat river after decades-long pollution cleanup efforts have resulted in the restoration of their population in cheat lake. The DAM also blocks mainstem connection between local brook trout streams upstream and downstream of the DAM. Eastern hellbender have been detected upstream and downstream of the DAM, isolating populations from one another. Friends of the cheat is pursuing reintroduction efforts for native freshwater mussels in the cheat river, of which the DAM would impede their success. Additionally, the project will open 6 miles of river to flatwater paddling opportunities, previously inaccessible to the public, and will establish a new public river access point. The project will benefit the local communities in preston and tucker counties, of which the cheat river flows through. New opportunities for these communities include increased fishing opportunities, one day or multi-day paddling trips, and new opportunities for small businesses to offer recreation-based tourism services (food, lodging, fishing & boating supplies, etc.) additionally, removing the albright power station DAM will reduce the risk of infrastructure failure in albright, WV, as the structure is over 70 years old and no longer serves a purpose. Specifically, the goals of the project are to complete design and permitting for the removal of the albright power station DAM and remove the DAM and restore the adjacent river reach. The deliverables and expected outcomes can be described as the following: 1 aquatic organism passage barrier rectified, 75 miles of river reconnected, 1.25 miles of in-stream habitat restored, and 7 miles of river opened for public access. Funds for this project will be used to contract the following services: engineering and consulting services that result in 100% plans for removal and restoration, legal services associated with acquiring the DAM and adjacent property for removal and stream bank restoration, and demolition/construction services associated with removing the DAM and restoring the river reach. Funds will also be used to allow friends of the cheat staff to manage the project, provide critical engineering and construction oversight, lead stakeholder meetings and public engagement, collaborate with agency partners, advance and secure permitting requests, and conduct critical monitoring activities associated with species occupancy and water quality, supporting four full time permanent positions within the organization over 18 months, and will also cover a portion of friends of the cheat administration allocations associated with managing the project at a 10 percent DE minimis modified total direct cost rate.