(Danville) — Danville is getting grant money to help pay for a dam removal last month.
In 2022, City Council voted to remove the Long Mill/White Mill Dam. Earlier this year Council voted to apply for a matching grant of a half million dollars through the Virginia Dam Safety, Flood Prevention and Protection Assistance Fund to help pay for removal. The state is awarding 250-thousand dollars.
After getting bids from outside vendors, staff decided the City’s Public Works Department could do the job for less than the bids.
Crews last month removed the 130-year old low-head dam between the White Mill and the Danville Family YMCA. It was a five-foot high, 1,150 foot wide low head dam built in 1894 by Dan River Mills.
Planners say they will need several environmental permits to start work on recreational attractions on that portion of the river—and the dam would have made that process much more difficult.
City Finance Director Michael Adkins says they haven’t received all the related invoices for the removal, but he thinks the final cost will be far less than what contractors were offering in their bids.