Buzzard Branch Mitigation Site Approved in Rutherford County, Tennessee

MURFREESBORO, Tenn., Oct. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Westervelt Ecological Services (WES) is pleased to announce the approval of the Buzzard Branch Mitigation Site, a 30.7-acre stream restoration project in Rutherford County, Tennessee. Approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), the site will provide compensatory mitigation for impacts associated with the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Interstate 24 Southeast Choice Lanes project while delivering long-term ecological benefits to the Stones River watershed.

The site marks WES’s first dam removal project, representing a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing efforts to restore and protect aquatic ecosystems throughout the Southeast. Restoration efforts focus on removing an existing low-head dam on the Middle Fork Stones River, restoring natural stream processes, improving aquatic organism passage, reconnecting floodplains, and establishing permanently protected riparian habitat throughout the site.

Post-construction view of offline stream restoration at the Buzzard Branch Mitigation Site in Rutherford County, Tennessee.

Historically, the property was affected by agricultural use, stream channelization, onsite borrow activities, and the impoundment created by the dam. These conditions altered natural stream function, restricted fish passage, reduced habitat quality, and contributed to degradation within Buzzard Branch and portions of the Middle Fork Stones River.

WES will restore and enhance approximately 6,224 linear feet of streams and establish riparian buffers throughout the site. By removing the dam and restoring natural hydrologic processes, the project will return free-flowing conditions to the Middle Fork Stones River while improving water quality, strengthening habitat connectivity, enhancing floodplain function, and supporting long-term ecosystem recovery.

The site is permanently protected through a conservation easement held by the TennGreen Land Conservancy to ensure its ecological functions are maintained in perpetuity.

For more information about WES and our services, please contact Sean McGary at (334) 332-8507 or smcgary@westervelt.com.

About Westervelt Ecological Services: Westervelt Ecological Services is a leading provider of mitigation and conservation banking solutions, focused on restoring and preserving wetlands, streams, and critical wildlife habitat. A division of The Westervelt Company, a nearly 140-year-old land stewardship organization based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, WES delivers mitigation banking and restoration solutions to support responsible development across the United States. To learn more, visit www.wesmitigation.com.

Contact:

Kelly Sands | Business Development Representative
(850) 661-4292 | ksands@westervelt.com

Sean McGary | Director, Smoky Mountains Region
(334) 332-8507 | smcgary@westervelt.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b06e4f19-c6ba-4ee9-84c7-d53a32471247