This page provides a compilation of past and current long-term (> 12 months) environmental monitoring networks solely within the Roanoke Basin.
The Roanoke Rapids Dam is the first dam on the mainstem Roanoke River encountered by diadromous fishes in their upstream spawning migrations. As part of re-licensing the hydropower station associated with the dam, the owner Dominion/North Carolina Power and natural resource agencies (USFWS, NOAA Fisheries, NCWRC, NCDMF and VDGIF) agreed to form a Diadromous Fish Restoration Technical Advisory Committee (DFRTAC) to provide for cooperative monitoring and restoration of diadromous fish in the Roanoke River Basin. Currently the NCWRC (contact: Pete Kornegay) is monitoring striped bass and American shad spawning stock on an annual basis. Monitoring efforts are concentrated in the vicinity of Roanoke Rapids and Weldon, NC (Halifax and Northampton Counties). NCWRC is also conducting annual monitoring of outmigrating American shad juveniles in the lower Roanoke River. Dominion/North Carolina Power began in 2005 annual monitoring of diadromous and resident fishes within a 1.5 mile reach downstream of the Roanoke Rapids Dam.
Also as part of the same re-licensing Dominion/North Carolina Power is involved in adaptive management efforts to investigate and reduce, as needed, the effects of peaking hydropower operations on the lower Roanoke River. Cooperative management teams consisting of Dominion, NCWRC, DEHNR, NOAA Fisheries, USFWS and The Nature Conservancy are responsible for developing and implementing monitoring studies. Annual monitoring efforts beginning in 2005 are being undertaken to identify the effects of peaking operations on resident fish, benthos, riparian vegetation, and bank erosion.
Water temperature and dissolved oxygen are monitored in the Roanoke Rapid Dam tailrace at 15-minute intervals.