Updates for October 2019
Click thru the links below to read the latest information regarding the proposed Fish Passage project
Final Independent External Peer Review Report Savannah Harbor Expansion Project
New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam
2105 Lock and Dam Road
Owner: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
The Threat: (1) The New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam is in need of critical repairs which were mandated by Congress. The repairs keep the structure operational and prevent deterioration of the systems. (2) In order to provide passage for endangered fish species, it has been proposed to remove the Lock and Dam and replace it with a permanent, in-river rock weir which has its own significant risks to Central Savannah River Area communities.
Some History: Constructed in 1937 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam creates a steady, controlled 10-mile long River Pool, and it routinely minimizes flood water levels during storm events. It is important to note that Lock and Dam has been officially “determined eligible” for listing in the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service. The Lock and Dam would fall under the category of “structure” on the National Register of Historic Places, which is one of the five categories under the program, the most common listings being “buildings” and “historic districts”.
Preservation Solution: Retaining the original Lock and Dam in its current configuration and performing the necessary repairs while constructing a modest fish bypass is the most cost-effective and protective solution that will achieve the needs of the US Army Corps of Engineers, local preservationists and historians. Listing the Lock and Dam to the National Register of Historic Places will offer an additional level of examination when federal money is spent through the Section 106 Review process.