How removing Alabama’s oldest dam will free migratory fish

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State Biologists Greg Miles And Steve Rider Holding A 165 Lb. 7’ Egg-Bearing Female Sturgeon Caught And Tagged In September 2020 In The Choctawhatchee River. The Sturgeon Was Released. (Travis Powell)
State biologists Greg Miles and Steve Rider holding a 165 lb. 7’ egg-bearing female sturgeon caught and tagged in September 2020 in the Choctawhatchee River. The sturgeon was released. (Travis Powell)

Since 1913, the Elba Hydroelectric Power Dam on the Pea River has restricted the natural movements of several species of migratory fish, including the Gulf Sturgeon and the Alabama Shad.

Now, thanks to funding from several federal grants, Alabama will soon demolish the dam and free the waterway for the first time in 110 years.

How the Elba Dam restricts migratory fish

Finished in 1913, the Elba Dam provided hydroelectric power to several growing Alabama towns in the early 20th century, including:

  • Troy
  • Dothan
  • Other surrounding communities

However, the Elba Dam—like many dams along Alabama’s waterways—has one major drawback: it restricts the natural movements of river-dwelling critters, such as the Gulf Sturgeon and Alabama Shad. This has, in part, led to the decline of populations of migratory freshwater fish, which are down by more than 80% since the 1970s according to a recent report by The Guardian.

Once Thought To Be Extinct, The Tulatoma Snail Has Made A Comeback In The Coosa And Alabama River Systems Near Wetumpka. Photo Via Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center
Once thought to be extinct, the Tulatoma snail has made a comeback in the Coosa and Alabama river systems near Wetumpka. (Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center)

That’s not all. When these fish species migrate upstream in search of food and places to lay their eggs, they act as carriers for several species of mussels. These mussels act as nature’s sponges, cleaning our rivers by filtering the water passing over them.

Demolishing the Elba Dam: A step in the right direction

“Alabama is a global hotspot for fish biodiversity, but we see those fish species threatened in places where we have impacted the rivers—either through polution or, in many cases, building dams. Removing the Elba Dam is a way to restore an enormously important ecosystem. “

Mitch Reid, State Director, The Nature Conservancy in Alabama

In 2015, the Elba Dam was breached in a severe flooding event—and has been inoperable ever since. Now, the dam will be removed thanks to funding and support from several sources, including:

“Removal of the dam will support Alabama shad and threatened Gulf sturgeon by increasing access to 34 miles of habitat on the Pea River used for spawning, nursery, and refuge.”

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration (NOAA)

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the removal of the Elba Dam will result in a massive 29% increase in access to habitat used by threatened and endangered fish and mussel species in the Choctawhatchee River basin.

“The removal of the Elba Dam has two main benefits. First, it restores the Pea River habitat for a native fish. Second, it improves safety along the river, which allows people to have a safe and enjoyable time—hopefully, they’ll even have a new access point.”

Mitch Reid, State Director, The Nature Conservancy in Alabama

Follow @thebamabuzz to stay up to date on the removal of the Elba Dam.

Nathan Watson
Nathan Watson

Tennessee native who fell in love with Birmingham during college. Graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in 2019. Passionate about Birmingham and its continued growth.

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