This project proposes to remove a DAM on big wills creek, owned by the city of gadsden in etowah county, alabama

The Cawaco Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc. received a $927,694.83 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 4 under the Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance federal grant program (CFDA 15.608). The grant will fund dam removal and aquatic habitat restoration activities on Big Wills Creek in Etowah County, Alabama. Specifically, Cawaco RC&D will oversee the mechanical removal of the hazardous Big Wills Creek Dam owned by the City of Gadsden to enhance public safety and restore habitat connectivity for aquatic species. Project activities will include removing instream structures, regrading soils, and disposing of construction debris. The City of Gadsden will support debris disposal. All work must be completed by March 17, 2023 to achieve the grant's objectives of reducing dam impacts and allowing fish passage.

The DAM poses hazardous conditions. Removal of the DAM will allow for address of the hazardous condition and provide an opportunity to enhance or restore habitat connectivity and improve fish passage. Project objectives: cawaco RC & D plans to work with the city of gadsden, S & me, USFWS programs, and any other potential partners to help meet two primary project objectives:- public safety - mechanical removal of the DAM to a level (TBD) that minimizes/negates human health and safety risks associated with severely altered hydraulics of the stream, and- aquatic habitat - enhance/restore habitat connectivity for aquatic fauna by permittingupstream migration.activities: activities associated with the primary scope of work for this project will include removing most, or all, of the instream structures associated with the DAM. The goals are to reduce, or eliminate, the DAM's impact on stream hydraulics, aquatic organism upstream migration, and human health and safety concerns. The scope of work will follow the proposed project plans as finalized and agreed upon with all involved parties. Cawaco RC & D will provide administrative and financial oversight during the project. USFWS personnel will provide project construction oversight. Cawaco RC & D, USFWS, and any other project partners will be provided project plans and clear direction as to any change in the project objectives and needs. Cawaco RC & D, USFWS, and any other partners will coordinate any needed changes and adjustments to project plans with the city of gadsden and S & me staff representatives. Upon completion of the primary scope of work, the project site footprint will be restored to the same or better conditions as prior to construction. The city of gadsden will allow for existing materials (e.g., trees, rock, DAM debris, etc.) to be harvested and repurposed at the project site, when and where appropriate. This also includes the RE-grading of soil/dirt, and disposal of such material within the confines of the city's property boundaries, on or off-site. The city of gadsden has agreed to provide any necessary loading, hauling, and disposal of excess construction debris generated during the removal of the DAM, from initiation to completion of project. The city owns and operates a C & D landfill.timeline: the project will begin as soon as all agreements and associated financialdocumentation are in place. Targeted project construction phase timeline is june-september 2022. All work must be completed by march 17, 2023.