Neuse River Weir Replacement

This project would return a greater portion of natural flow to the main stream of the Neuse River, providing uplift in ecological function to include increased food supply, increased velocity and improvement in successful fish migration upstream.

The original Federal project was constructed for the purpose of flood control along a segment of the Neuse River. Due to the negative impacts of flooding, particularly to agriculture, in 1941, Congress authorized the excavation of a cutoff channel approximately 6,400 feet long by-passed about 7.7 miles of the main stem of the Neuse. Within the cutoff channel, a low-head weir was constructed to divert portions of the main stem flow into the cutoff channel during higher flows. The intended effect was a reduction in flood risk along the 7.7 by-passed section of the Neuse River.

Due to environmental concerns that the reduced flow in the by-passed portion of the Neuse River is having a negative impact on riverine functionality and fish migration success. The diversion of flow into the cutoff channel reduces velocity and increases water surface area in the main stem.

Conti will perform construction of the new sheet pile weir and rip rap scour protection. Work also includes cutting the original USACE weir below grade and removing the temporary section 408 weir and construction of stone access road and incidental related work.