North Fork Reservoir Dredging

The City of Hendersonville operates the North Fork Mills River Reservoir located within the Pisgah National Forest as a source of high-quality water for Hendersonville and surrounding areas. The watershed is completely forested, public lands, and has provided water for approximately 100 years. Over the years, sediment has naturally accumulated within the reservoir, which has reduced the storage capacity of the reservoir and has begun to infringe on the water intake structure's ability to receive water. To ensure the continued operation of this valuable resource, during the project the Reservoir's water level will be lowered and the accumulated sediment will be removed, temporarily stockpiled, and transported outside of the National Forest for proper disposal.

The construction area within Pisgah National Forest will be surrounded by safety fencing, and signage will be posted in the area. Forest users are advised to avoid entering construction zones for their safety and should exercise caution on the national forest roads due to increased construction traffic. Motor vehicle access to Wash Creek Road (FS 5000) from the North Mills River Campground to the Wash Creek Group Camp and Hendersonville Reservoir Road to the Trace Ridge Parking Area will be restricted during certain construction work activities that present safety hazards on weekdays from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.  

Construction will begin in April 2023 and is expected to continue for several months until August 2023.

After dredging we will implement a sediment management program for the reservoir that will reduce the frequency of future dredging operations and enhance the downstream ecological conditions with more natural sediment transport.

For more information about the US Forest Service Pisgah Ranger District where the project is located, please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recarea/?recid=48116

• The City of Hendersonville has been providing clean, high-quality drinking water for more than one hundred years. Partnering with the National Forest made and continues to make this service possible.
• Our health and way of life depend on clean drinking water. Healthy ecosystems and reliable water sources are vital to public health, wildlife, agriculture, tourism, recreation, manufacturing, and other economic sectors.
• Hendersonville Water & Sewer provides approximately 72,000 people across Hendersonville and parts of Henderson County with trusted, safe, high-quality, affordable water.
• Hendersonville currently sources water from three locations – two located in Pisgah National Forest. Water from the North Fork Mills River Reservoir and Bradley Creek located in Pisgah National Forest as well as water from the main stem of the Mills River travel to Hendersonville’s water treatment facility where treatment occurs before traveling through pipes to homes and businesses across the community.
• Hendersonville Water & Sewer believes environmental sustainability is critical to preserving the community for future generations. Protecting natural water resources and working with partners like the National Forest Service allows our community to enjoy life-sustaining natural water sources while protecting and sustaining our forests for future generations.