White Clay Creek Wild and Scenic River Shad Restoration Project (Removal of Byrnes Dam No. 1)

Abstract

The objective of this project was to remove White Clay Creek Dam No. 1 (RM 4.2) to reopen 3.5 miles and 42 acres of spawning habitat along the National Wild and Scenic River for the passage of American shad, hickory shad, and herring in New Castle County, Delaware. The dam was removed by the contractor on December 4 and 5, 2014. This was the first dam removal project for fish passage in the State of Delaware. Removal of downstream-most Dam No. 1 along the White Clay Creek Wild and Scenic River is the first and most critical step in a 5-year plan to remove an additional 6 upstream dams and reopen fish passage for 14 miles from tidewater inland to the Piedmont at the Delaware/Pennsylvania state line.