Canaan valley institute (CVI) will work collaboratively with the USFWS appalachian fish and wildlife conservation office and virginia partners for fish and wildlife program and VA department of…

This Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), under the National Fish Passage Program (CFDA 15.685), provides $499,999 to the Canaan Valley Institute to collaborate with federal, state, and local partners to remove a hazardous low-head dam on the McClure River in Clinchco, Virginia. This dam removal project will fully reconnect 22 miles of the McClure River, benefiting the federally threatened Big Sandy crayfish within its critical habitat by allowing movement between two isolated populations. In addition to species recovery benefits, the project will also provide new river recreation and tourism opportunities for the historically underserved community of Clinchco. The award has an ultimate completion date of September 30, 2028.

Canaan valley institute (CVI) will work collaboratively with the USFWS appalachian fish and wildlife conservation office and virginia partners for fish and wildlife program and VA department of wildlife resources and the town of clinchco and other partners to remove one hazardous low head DAM on the mcclure river in the town of clinchco VA to benefit the federally threatened big sandy crayfish camburus callainus within critical habitat. Removal of this DAM will fully reconnect the 22 mile mcclure river for big sandy crayfish allowing movement between two currently isolated and genetically important populations separated by the DAM. In addition to the species recovery benefits this project will uplift an historically underserved community in rural appalachia by creating river recreation and tourism opportunities which are currently not possible due to the hazardous nature of this DAM. In total 83 miles of upstream habitat will be reconnected upstream of clinchco DAM.