Group to study removing dam on Cheat River

KINGWOOD, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia group plans to study removal of the only dam on the Cheat River.

The DTE Foundation awarded Friends of the Cheat $100,000 to study removing the Albright Power Station dam, which created a pool that fed the cooling towers of the now decommissioned coal-fired plant, The Dominion Post reported.

“Preserving our environment — land, air and water — is a priority for the DTE Energy Foundation,” said Lynette Dowler, president of the foundation. “We’re proud to support Friends of the Cheat in their work to remove a dam that will improve aquatic life and enhance fishing along this beautiful waterway.”

A consulting firm will do a study to determine information such as the structural integrity of the dam, details about sediment behind it and potential options for removal.

Removal of the dam is endorsed by the state Division of Natural Resources, the foundation said.