Over 10,000 dams impound rivers and streams in the three Southeast Atlantic states. North Carolina has over 5,600 dams and barriers on 17,000 stream miles, many of which are old and obsolete structures. There is an average of one barrier structure every three miles. The state also ranks second in the number of high-hazard dams, which can negatively affect the safety of the citizens of North Carolina and aquatic species. These dams impede movements of many native river resident species, such as Brook Trout and Shoal Bass, but also restrict migrations of marine fish that rely on rivers for various life stages, including Striped Bass, Atlantic Sturgeon, American Shad, American Eels, and river herring. In many cases, these blockages [...]
