<< Back 6/26/02 Dillsboro dam deliberations continue Duke gathers public input on proposed dam removal project By Don Hendershot Duke Power held a public information meeting June 20 to discuss the possible removal of all or part of the Dillsboro Dam. That suggestion was one of 30 items presented for discussion in a draft “trial balloon” at the March regular meeting of the Tuckasegee Cooperative Stakeholder Team. The purpose of the trial balloon was to stimulate discussion within the stakeholder group concerning how a variety of river and relicensing interests could fit together in a consensus agreement. The Tuckasegee Team was created nearly two years ago to work with Duke Power in an “enhanced traditional process” to develop a set of consensus recommendations as part of the utility’s federal relicensing process. Duke is undergoing the first relicensing of its hydropower plants in Western North Carolina since the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission decided that recreational and environmental concerns had to be given equal consideration with power production. While there are 29 other critical issues in the trial balloon, including changing lake levels at Lake Glenville, Bear Creek, Wolf Creek and others, minimum instream and bypass flows, expanded recreational facilities and more, the removal of the dam appears to have taken center stage. John Wishon, Duke’s Nantahala relicensing project manager, said the idea of removing the dam was raised at an earlier scoping meeting held in Cullowhee. He said Duke was interested in finding out what kind of mitigation value removal of the dam held for stakeholders. Back in March when removal was first mentioned, new stakeholder team member T.J. Walker — owner of the Dillsboro Inn just a few yards from the dam — worried about the loss of aesthetic, commercial and historical value. In an effort to identify and quantify some of those considerations, Duke contracted with Stantec Consulting to research the issue. Stantec is an engineering and consulting firm that works on river and stream restoration across the country. Representatives from Stantec met with Tuckasegee stakeholders Thursday afternoon and were present at the public information meeting Thursday night to discuss their concepts on what the river might look and sound like after removal of the dam. Brad Fairley of Stantec told stakeholders that removal of the dam and river restoration would return the river to a more natural state, provide a stable channel, return the bed to a gravel/cobble composition, enhance boating opportunities and enhance fisheries. Fairley said he was surprised to find that there were riffles on the river that were louder than the dam and that they generated a more constant sound than the dam. He said the noise level at the dam fluctuated more, depending on water releases from upstream. Dillsboro Mayor Jean Hartbarger was present at the stakeholders meeting. She asked that participants consider the historic and aesthetic values of the dam. She said she had spoken with many of Dillsboro’s 170 residents and had heard no support for the removal of the dam. “The dam has been a part of Dillsboro for 80 years and is the site of the first power plant in North Carolina,” Hartbarger said. At the stakeholders meeting, Walker said he was concerned because the public information meeting would not be a forum where citizens had an opportunity to speak. Fred Alexander, Duke’s district manager for the Nantahala Area, said the informational meeting was scheduled to honor a commitment to the town of Dillsboro. “It is a format we have used before. It is for people interested in gathering information,” Alexander said. Possible benefits to removing the dam, according to materials presented by Duke at the informational meeting, include adding 11 miles of unimpeded river to the Tuckasegee, raising the total free-flowing river miles to 32 above Fontana Lake, permit some aquatic species more freedom in migrating up or down stream, and provide an equal or greater volume of sound where the dam was located. Negative impacts listed were loss of the waterfall over the dam and possible short-term effects produced by the movement of sediment trapped behind the dam. An information sheet from Duke also stated: “For the dam to be removed, these actions must occur: 1. The Tuckasegee River Stakeholder Team, which includes the Town of Dillsboro, and Duke Power must agree. 2. A study must show that the removal is environmentally responsible. 3. An engineering study must show that the removal is economically feasible. 4. The proposal must assist Duke in retaining continued flexibility in hydro operations in the Nantahala Area. Hartbarger said she felt there was a lot of local support to keep the dam, but she also praised Duke’s efforts to solicit public input. “Duke has been very responsive in working with all stakeholders.” John Hutton is a property owner just upstream of the dam. He said he didn’t feel strongly one way or the other, but that he wouldn’t be disappointed if the dam was removed. Wishon said it was important that the public realize that the dam removal was part of a trial balloon, and that trial balloons were in no way binding. He said it was important for Duke to try and gauge how the public felt about removing the dam. He invited citizens to comment in writing to John Wishon, 301 NP&L Loop Franklin, NC 28734 or by email to jcwishon@duke-energy.com.