Wilmington, North Carolina—Today the Wilmington District received official notification that American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds of about $12 million will be made available to construct a rock ramp for fish passage at Lock and Dam No. 1 on the Cape Fear River.
Prior to initiating the rock ramp project, the Wilmington District will first carry out another more than $3 million project to repair a scour hole that has been worn away in the river bed in front of the dam. Environmental windows for fish migration will prevent any construction work from beginning on the project before July.
“We are delighted to receive the green light for this project,” said Col. Jefferson M. Ryscavage. “This is a great example of much needed work that has become possible because of ARRA funding, brings great environmental benefits to our area, and will provide business and employment opportunities in the Cape Fear Region.”
In particular, the construction work for the fish passage will:
· Fulfill a long-standing environmental mitigation requirement from the Wilmington Harbor Deepening project, allowing endangered Atlantic short-nosed sturgeon and other federally listed species to swim upstream for spawning.
· Offer employment opportunity in Bladen County, N.C., where unemployment had reached 12 percent by September 2009.
· Offer opportunities to local quarries to supply materials in a state that has more than 10 percent unemployment.
· Improve dam safety on a structure that is the major water source for southeastern North Carolina.
Release no. 18-058