Reconnecting Appalachian Rivers

The Nature Conservancy in West Virginia, in partnership with Friends of Cheat, is working to identify and address barriers to aquatic organism passage within the Monongahela National Forest. Made possible through internal TNC grant funding, this project aims to survey all potential stream obstructions in the Cheat River Watershed. By restoring natural stream flow and connectivity, we’re helping native aquatic species thrive while improving overall watershed health.

Building on recent success in the Paulin’s Kill River, TNC is removing four dams on another Delaware River tributary, including a tiered, outdated structure that is causing significant flooding in the town of Belvidere, NJ. Removing all four dams along the Pequest River will reconnect 57 miles of habitat for migratory fish and other freshwater species, improve water quality, and mitigate flooding downtown. However, Belvidere's main motivation is to enhance recreational possibilities on and around the waterway to make it a "destination" river town.

Likely to be one of the largest river restoration efforts in the nation, this project to remove four dams on the lower river will reconnect over 800 miles of habitat in a way that provide economic benefits to towns along the river, while supporting ecological benefits to fish populations and the communities that depend on them along the river and in the Gulf of Maine.

To enhance the health and climate readiness of the region's rivers, The Nature Conservancy and partners developed a road-stream crossing prioritization tool that produced a suggested ‘top 10 list’ of obsolete dams and culverts in need of removal or replacement in each municipality in the Lake Champlain basin. Such barriers cut off cold-water species like salmon from sizable portions of their habitat and often cause flooding. Prioritization lists like this are an invaluable tool to help towns and villages access new public funding streams for barrier mitigation projects, such as New York’s Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act.   

Based on our collective research, The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service entered into a cooperative agreement to immediately address six barriers in the Boquet River Basin, reconnecting more than 22 miles of high-quality salmon and trout habitat in the watershed. 

In 2022, TNC and its partners led a large-scale restoration effort at our Blakeslee Preserve in the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Pennsylvania. The project included efforts to reintroduce large woody material along a ¾-mile section of Cherry Creek that flows through the preserve in order to reduce stream bank erosion and enhance aquatic habitat. Additionally, TNC and US Forest Service co-hosted a four-day workshop to train other regional practitioners on the use of these techniques.

In Maine’s North Woods, thousands of roads used for timber harvesting and recreation constrict waterways and prevent fish and other aquatic organisms from reaching critical habitat. Through our Watershed Approach To Restoring Stream Systems (or WATRSS) Project, made possible through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, we partner with many tribal, federal, nonprofit and private landowners to plan for and carry out needed upgrades across 25,255 square miles of the state.

In 2021, TNC and partners removed the 128-year-old O’Conner Reservoir dam at Eales Preserve on Moosic Mountain in Pennsylvania. Plans to remove the dam and restore Sterry Creek had been under development for more than a year; however, due to heavy rains from multiple tropical storms, the removal and restoration plan was accelerated, prompting emergency action as the dam’s structural integrity declined.

Its removal created an opportunity to restore Sterry Creek’s original stream channel and floodplain, improving headwater habitat and reconnecting wildlife corridors. Today, native vegetation is returning to the site, enhancing riverine, wetland, and riparian ecosystems while offering visitors a unique view of the site’s history and its ecological renewal.

In Barrington, Topaz Drive is the only way in and out of the Emerald Acres Cooperative (about 100 homes). After the 2007 Patriot’s Day storm washed out the road and stranded residents for three days, TNC and partners redesigned the crossing, replacing an undersized culvert with a 32‑foot bridge that keeps people safely connected as storms intensify and lets the Oyster River flow naturally. The project restores upstream passage for fish such as brook trout, American eel and the state‑endangered American brook lamprey—ranked the top culvert‑replacement priority in the watershed by New Hampshire Fish and Game—and improves under‑road movement for wildlife including Blanding’s and spotted turtles. It’s a resilient fix for public safety, river health and wildlife connectivity, made possible by community, town, state and philanthropic support.

In Western Massachusetts, TNC is partnering with the Berkshire Clean, Cold and Connected partnership, the Wild & Scenic Westfield River Committee, and several muniicipalities to identify, develop and implement culvert upgrades in four priority watersheds. Culverts provide a path for water to flow underneath roads, but can also be critical thoroughfares for wildlife moving throughout the landscape. The partners are tracking over 50 culvert projects across four counties that demonstrate a high level of benefit for aquatic species and are at critical locations for improved flood resilience. The goal is to get several projects constructed in the next two years.

In western Vermont, just north of Lake Bomoseen, is the derelict Austin Pond dam. The 8-foot-high concrete barrier, built in 1900, has truncated several tributaries to create Austin Pond. Though formerly a spot for local recreation for several decades, the pond is now beset by invasive aquatic plant life and poses a danger to downstream. Once complete, 11 miles of river will be reconnected for aquatic migration and nearly 40 acres of wetlands will be restored.

Decades-old locks and dams on the Green River degraded habitat, affected wildlife, and showed signs of age and decline that threatened public safety. Paddlers ran the risk of being swept over a low-head dam. TNC worked closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mammoth Cave National Park, and other partners to strategically remove the aging structures that posed a risk to nature and people.

Through TNC's Reconnecting Appalachian Rivers grant program, the Kentucky chapter and the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves (OKNP) are assessing barriers within the Daniel Boone National Forest. Our primary focus is on culverted stream crossings that hinder fish passage and contribute to road flooding. This project will lay the groundwork for both current and future conservation efforts. Its goals are to reduce stream sedimentation, reconnect aquatic populations, and restore the function, health, and connectivity of this highly biodiverse Appalachian river system.

Hurricane Helene dumped over 40 trillion gallons of water into the region, triggering nearly 2,000 landslides across the state. These events will impact freshwater systems for years. TNC in North Carolina, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, has completed a physical impact assessment and is developing Watershed Restoration Action Plans to guide long-term recovery. TNC is prioritizing projects that improve aquatic connectivity through resilient infrastructure and coordinating with partners to align efforts, maximize impact, and build community resilience.

The Citico Creek watershed in East Tennessee is a conservation priority due to its ecological value and role in community resilience. With partners including the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Trout Unlimited, TNC in Tennessee is removing barriers to restore stream flow and habitat.

Recent projects include replacing an undersized culvert at Little Citico Creek with a bridge, reconnecting habitat, and improving passage for species like the endangered smoky madtom. We also removed the failing Lower Citico Creek dam to enhance public safety and restore stream connectivity. Free-flowing rivers carry more floodwater, helping communities withstand extreme weather.

Freshwater mussels play a vital ecological role in rivers and streams. As voracious filter feeders, each mussel can clean 4 to 15 gallons of water per day. One of the highest concentrations of rare mussels is found in the Clinch River, near the Tennessee–Virginia border, where 21 federally endangered species live.    

The Nature Conservancy and partners use mussel augmentation techniques and annually monitor four mussel shoals—shallow, fast-moving sections with rocky bottoms—where mussels have been released. These surveys track abundance, species diversity, and juvenile recruitment. In September 2025, biologists conducted the latest round of sampling. While data analysis is still underway, they observed large numbers of juvenile oyster mussels, numerous adult mussels across species, and signs of active reproduction. These shoals represent some of the last healthy populations for several species, making their conservation essential. Without them, restoring native freshwater mussels would be far more difficult.