Anglers worry proposed plant would hurt fish

A plan to build the first hydroelectric plant at the Gathright Dam in Alleghany County is causing concern among the state's anglers, who worry that the project could destroy trout populations downstream in the Jackson River.

The Jackson is one of Virginia's premier fishing streams, beloved by anglers for its abundance of wild trout. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is preparing to undertake an environmental study of the project, and fishing enthusiasts -- most notably the Virginia Council of Trout Unlimited -- are urging the agency to pay close attention to the plant's potential impact on water temperatures in the river.

The $6.5 million hydroelectric plant, proposed by Jordan Hydroelectric Limited Partnership of Gatlinburg, Tenn., calls for the construction of a 155-foot-high structure at the dam with a turbine and a 3.7-megawatt generating unit. According to James Price, president of Jordan Hydroelectric, the operation would create enough electricity to power 1,750 homes a year. (By comparison, the 19 wind turbines slated to be built in Highland County this year would generate enough power to serve 12,000 homes, according to the company behind the project, Highland New Wind Development.)

Price said a potential customer for the electricity generated at the dam would be the BARC Electric Cooperative of Millboro, which serves 12,500 customers in Bath, Alleghany, Rockbridge, Highland and Augusta counties.

The dam project will not harm trout because the stream flows and temperatures would remain the same, Price said.

The 29-year-old, 257-foot-high, 1,172-foot-long Gathright Dam, which creates Lake Moomaw, is run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which regulates the flow of water through the dam and ensures the water is cold enough to support wild trout populations.

Concerns about Jordan Hydroelectric's ability to keep the water flowing in its current state have been expressed by the U.S. Forest Service, MeadWestvaco, the Virginia Council of Trout Unlimited and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, according to documents filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Marvin Huffman, a member of Trout Unlimited's Roanoke chapter, said the organization felt it was important to express its concerns to the federal agency because the populations of wild rainbow and brook trout make the Jackson a unique stretch of water.

The game department has since made its peace with the project after receiving assurances from Jordan Hydroelectric that the Corps of Engineers would remain in charge of the water flow, said Larry Mohn, the department's regional fisheries manager in Verona. "If they can guarantee that that's the case," he said, "then we don't have any concerns."

However, Trout Unlimited said Jordan Hydroelectric still has not submitted enough data to show it is possible to maintain water quality and temperatures while generating electricity at the dam. "If the project is installed, and encounters problems meeting current water quality levels, the Jackson River's fishery and the economics of the project could both be at risk," Trout Unlimited said in a document submitted to the federal government on its behalf by the University of Virginia's Environmental Law and Conservation Clinic.

Price, though, said the company has submitted enough documentation to ease everyone's concerns: "We've over-responded, in my opinion."

The regulatory commission has scheduled meetings on its planned environmental analysis for 1 p.m. Jan. 20 and 6 p.m. Jan 21. Both meetings are to take place in the Covington public library.

Celeste Miller, spokeswoman for the commission, said the intent of the meetings is to allow the public to help the commission determine the breadth of its study. The study, she added, should be finished by September, after which the commission could rule on whether to grant Jordan Hydroelectric a license to run the plant.