US Army Corps of Engineers
Hydrologic Engineering Center

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Roanoke River, NC & VA - Reservoir management for multiple purposes

John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir is located along the border of North Carolina and Virginia and separates the Upper and Lower Roanoke Rivers. The Lower Roanoke is renowned for a large intact and relatively undisturbed bottomland hardwood forest. Over 95,000 acres of this unique floodplain have been protected through a variety of conservation actions, but viability of these habitats is tightly connected to flood dynamics, which are influenced by dam operations.

Operations reviews by the Wilmington District and stakeholders recognized that flexibility in reservoir management could improve conditions without major modification to the structure. Working together, an alternative management plan was designed to more efficiently manage flood space in the reservoir in a manner that also improved hydrologic conditions for floodplain forests of the Roanoke River.

The Lower Roanoke River floodplain includes a large intact and relatively undisturbed bottomland hardwood forest.
Lower Roanoke River - The Lower Roanoke River floodplain includes a large intact and relatively undisturbed bottomland hardwood forest (photo by John Hickey, USACE).
Water Management staff explain reservoir operations and expected ecological outcomes of water releases.
Roanoke River - Water Management staff explain reservoir operations and expected ecological outcomes of water releases (photo by Gretchen Benjamin, TNC).
Signs of prolonged and steady inundation are often visible on the trunks of floodplain trees (see water level marks on trees to left). While some seasonal flooding is tolerated by these species, receding water levels, especially during the summer and fall, can help reduce stress on the trees.
Roanoke River floodplain - Signs of prolonged and steady inundation are often visible on the trunks of floodplain trees (see water level marks on trees to left). While some seasonal flooding is tolerated by these species, receding water levels, especially during the summer and fall, can help reduce stress on the trees (photo by Gretchen Benjamin, TNC).
The vast bottomland hardwood forest downstream of the John H. Kerr Dam on the Roanoke River. Improved environmental flows through the dam help maintain this critical floodplain forest.
John H. Kerr Dam - The vast bottomland hardwood forest downstream of the John H. Kerr Dam on the Roanoke River. Improved environmental flows through the dam help maintain this critical floodplain forest (USACE photo).
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Story

The Roanoke River flows over 400 miles from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Albemarle Sound, encompassing a drainage area of about 9,600 square miles. The Upper and Middle Roanoke Basin are highly regulated, with multiple private and USACE-owned reservoirs on the Roanoke River and its tributaries. USACE owns and manages two reservoirs in the Roanoke Basin – Philpott Reservoir on the Smith River and John H. Kerr Reservoir on the Roanoke River. Both are multi-purpose reservoirs, with flood risk management and hydropower as primary operational purposes.   Read More

Partners
  • Commonwealth of Virginia
  • Dominion Energy
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
  • National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
  • NC Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCACS)
  • NC Dept. of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ)
  • NC Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC)
  • Southeastern Power Administration (SEPA)
  • State of North Carolina
  • The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
  • US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
  • US Geological Survey (USGS)
  • Virginia Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VADACS)
  • Virginia Dept. of Environmental Quality (VADEQ)
  • Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries (VADGIF)
Resources

John H. Kerr Reservoir Water Control Plan (June 2016)

Publications
Title Category Site Date