6101 Cole Mill Road, Durham, NC 27705-9275
(919) 383-1686
eno.river@ncmail.net

Pleasant Green Dam Removal

In March 2006, Eno River State Park began the removal of the Pleasant Green Dam by draining the impoundment created by the dam.  The goal of this project is to return 22 miles of the Eno River to an uninterrupted system of riffles, runs, and pools from the Ben Johnson Lake Dam in Hillsborough to the West Point on the Eno Dam in Durham. The project is a cooperative effort of the state parks system, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the N.C. Division of Water Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The second phase of the project is expected to begin in the fall and will involve actual demolition of the dam and restoration of up to 1,600 feet of the river's banks upstream of the dam site. Portions of the impoundment's banks, including some on property of homeowners at the northern reaches of the impoundment, will be restored to a natural slope and will be planted with native trees and shrubs. Sediment immediately behind the dam will either be stabilized or removed.

Why was the dam built?

The dam was built by the Duke Power Company in 1915.  Its purpose was to provide a pool of water for the cooling of superheated water discharged from a steam generation plant.  The dam is 122 feet wide and 10-12 feet tall.  It was retired in 1958.

Why remove the dam?

A 2001 inspection concluded that the dam was in disrepair and posed significant environmental risk and liability. Replacing the dam would have been five to 10 times more expensive than removal.

A 1998 fish survey found that some native fish species were in low numbers and the dam was a migration barrier. Removing the dam will restore and improve habitat for many aquatic species.  Some of the species that will benefit are the rare Neuse River waterdog, and these federal species of concern: the panhandle pebblesnail, yellow lamp mussel, and Atlantic pigtoe mussel.

What's the impact on the Eno?

The dam created a 21.8-acre pond that is 1.5 miles long.  There are approximately 8,100 cubic yards of sediment built up behind the dam.  Once the dam is removed, 13.4 miles of river and 42.7 miles of tributaries will be restored to a natural flow.  The river will then flow freely for 22 miles from Hillsborough to Durham.

Can I still fish and paddle?

Removing the dam will return the river to a free-flowing system of riffles, runs, and pools.  Fishing, canoeing, and kayaking will still be available but, as in other sections of the Eno, will be dependent on rainfall and water levels.