Removal of the Marvel Slab reopens Removal of the Marvel Slab reopens section of the Cahaba Riversection of the Cahaba River

Photos Courtesy of Paul Freeman, The Nature ConservancyPhotos Courtesy of Paul Freeman, The Nature Conservancy

BEFORE(October 15, 2004)(October 15, 2004)

AFTER(October 30, 2004)

Dam Removal on Cahaba River is First for Alabama

State’s longest free-flowing river gets help from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and conservationists

Removal of the Marvel Slab Dam on Alabama’s Cahaba River Removal of the Marvel Slab Dam on Alabama’s Cahaba River was completed on October xx, 2004. This marked the the first time was completed on October xx, 2004. This marked the the first time a dam has been removed in the state for environmental reasons. a dam has been removed in the state for environmental reasons. The dam was 6 feet tall, 210 feet long and 24 feet wide. It was The dam was 6 feet tall, 210 feet long and 24 feet wide. It was constructed about 40 years ago in northern Bibb County to allow constructed about 40 years ago in northern Bibb County to allow coal and logging trucks to cross the river. The dam was basically a coal and logging trucks to cross the river. The dam was basically a giant slab of concrete with 46, 3-foot diameter culverts that allowed giant slab of concrete with 46, 3-foot diameter culverts that allowed water to pass through. water to pass through. The work was funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, The work was funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with additional funds from the World Wildlife Fund, The Nature with additional funds from the World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, and the Cahaba River Society, and the Alabama Conservancy, and the Cahaba River Society, and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Eight Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Eight government agencies worked to complete the project, along with, government agencies worked to complete the project, along with, conservation groups and landowners along the river. conservation groups and landowners along the river.

The project aids in the recovery efforts for nine species of The project aids in the recovery efforts for nine species of fish and mollusks protected under the Endangered Species fish and mollusks protected under the Endangered Species Act by improving the habitat that these animals need to Act by improving the habitat that these animals need to survive. More than 131 species of fish and more than 75 survive. More than 131 species of fish and more than 75 species of freshwater mussels and snails have been observed species of freshwater mussels and snails have been observed in the Cahaba including five fish and eleven mollusk species in the Cahaba including five fish and eleven mollusk species protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. To minimize the harm to mussels and freshwater snails To minimize the harm to mussels and freshwater snails while the dam was being removed, scientists and technicians while the dam was being removed, scientists and technicians spent three days transplanting the animals out of harms way. spent three days transplanting the animals out of harms way. They picked by hand thousands from the bottom of the river, They picked by hand thousands from the bottom of the river, counting and classifying them, and then carrying them counting and classifying them, and then carrying them upstream away from the dam removal site. After the dam is upstream away from the dam removal site. After the dam is removed, scientists say, animals will colonize and migrate removed, scientists say, animals will colonize and migrate through the newly restored natural river.through the newly restored natural river.Photos courtesy of Paul Freeman - The Nature Conservancy

Opportunities for the future…

Thousands of abandoned small dams and diversions still exist on waterways across the southeast. The removal of Thousands of abandoned small dams and diversions still exist on waterways across the southeast. The removal of Marvel Slab sets a precedent that will likely be repeated in the years to come. The Corps is already considering the Marvel Slab sets a precedent that will likely be repeated in the years to come. The Corps is already considering the removal of two dams in the Chattahoochee River on the Georgia/Alabama border. removal of two dams in the Chattahoochee River on the Georgia/Alabama border.

Before (October 15, 2004) After (October 30, 2004Before (October 15, 2004) After (October 30, 2004))

Photos courtesy of Paul Freeman - The Nature Conservancy