WES's First Dam Removal Project

WES is excited to announce our selection by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) to support the Interstate 24 Southeast Choice Lanes Project with the Buzzard Branch Mitigation Site (BBMS).

Located in Rutherford County, Tennessee, the BBMS is a strategically selected property within the Stones River watershed, just west of Interstate 24 and southeast of Murfreesboro. This project is designed to deliver stream mitigation credits, satisfying Clean Water Act Section 404 and 401 permit requirements for TDOT.

The project will restore approximately 3,186 linear feet on the Middle Fork Stones River through dam removal and approximately 3,339 linear feet of restoration along Buzzard Branch. This marks the first dam removal project for WES focused on restoring stream function and wetland and species habitat. The project will permanently enhance, restore, and protect river and stream habitat, reconnect incised perennial stream reaches to their floodplain, increase bedform diversity to support ecologically diverse aquatic habitats, and permanently protect a glade wetland system which is considered an Exceptional Tennessee Water (ETW) by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC).

WES is proud to partner with TDOT on this innovative and impactful project, which will provide long-term benefits for water quality, aquatic organisms, unique wetland systems, and species habitat in the region.