POWERGRAMS

ENVIRONMENT Weiss Dam improvements restore Coosa River flow 2 Christmas on the River is a holiday tradition in Demopolis, where Alabama Power employees help the event run smoothly every year. Photo by Billy Brown ON THE COVER: For the first time in 50 years, a continuous stream of water is flowing through the 20-mile former course of the Coosa River below Weiss Dam. As Alabama Power raised the bypass spillway gate in late October, it brought smiles to the faces of state and federal agency officials and recreational users of this slow-flowing, sometimes unmoving stretch of water. "We are lacking in large river habitat throughout our state because most of our large rivers have been modified," said Paul Johnson, program supervisor with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. "This is the first hydrologic flow restoration, not only in the state, but in the Mobile River basin." When Weiss Dam was built in the 1950s, a diversion dam and canal were constructed to reroute water from the original river channel 3 miles upstream to the current hydroelectric dam site to take advantage of a 20-foot drop in elevation. "We were able to take advantage of 20 more feet of head in our generation of power. So it was a huge advantage," said Jim Crew, manager of hydro services. "In order to do that, we obviously had to divert the water from the original Coosa River system to the pond in front of the powerhouse. In essence, it eliminated most of the flow in the 20-mile section of bypassed river." Restoring the flow was mandated in the federal relicensing of Alabama Power's Coosa River dams. "In the relicensing process, stakeholders had an opportunity to voice their concerns over issues or parts of the project they would like to see changed or improved," said Jason Carlee, water field services supervisor, Environmental Affairs. "The Weiss bypass is one issue that has been an ongoing concern for stakeholders. Returning flows to that section of the river is something we worked with stakeholders and cooperative agencies to do." The new water flow will provide improved conditions to restore the federally endangered Southern clubshell mussel and other aquatic life. "The Southern clubshell and all freshwater mussel species pretty much are dependent upon flow and water," said Jeff Powell, an aquatic biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "They don't survive in impounded waters that are backed up, where temperatures warm up, water quality degrades and oxygen is no longer in the water at a level sufficient to support these populations. So this oxygenated flow now coming out of Weiss Dam will support not only the Southern clubshell but the 30 or 40 other species that potentially could occur in the Weiss bypass." Improved habitat for aquatic life isn't the only benefit of the new river flow. "This segment of the Coosa has always been problematic for the paddler," said Jim Felder, executive director of the Alabama Scenic River Trail, and an advocate for canoeing and kayaking. "It has historically presented some very low levels of water and inconsistent flow. As of the opening of the spillway, we're going to see year-round consistent improvement in both flow and water level." "They've got the crappie fishing in the reservoir. Now they're going to have some great riverine fishing with the flow restoration," Johnson said. "Between the two habitats, it's going to be quite exciting for folks to have a different type of fishing experience." While a cooperative spirit emerged from years of negotiations, there were tense moments at times as various interests staked a claim to their vision of the relicensing. In the end, there was celebration as the flow was restored. "When I think about the process we've been through since we began discussing this in 2000, a lot of good people have come to the table to try to make this a reality," said Stan Cook, chief of fisheries for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. "Alabama Power is there representing the interest of the power-users and we're representing the interest of the people who want to see a healthy environment in good shape that allows the ecosystem to function as it should. It took good people to come together with a common purpose to make this happen." By Gilbert Nicholson Crew and Cook after Weiss Dam spillway opened. Photo by Nik Layman

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