Project Titles:

• Rehabilitate Water Supply Canal (FFS #R5PJ)
• Replace Main Culvert (FFS #R5PL)
• Replace Water Intake #1 (FFS #R5PM)
• Replace Water Intake #2 (FFS #R5PK)
• Rehabilitate Main Office Building for Energy Efficiency (FFS #R5QC)

State: Virginia

Project Description: $175,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds were used to help small businesses and make crucial repairs to a facility created by the original federal stimulus plan.

The Harrison Lake National Fish Hatchery in Charles City, Virginia, was created in 1937 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal and had undergone few major renovations in the 73 years since. The water delivery system, which directs water from nearby Harrison Lake into the hatchery, was a hand dug canal from the 1790s that often carried muddy water to the facility. Part of the rehabilitation project redirected the supply water to a natural stream, eliminating the mud problem.

Three additional projects were carried out at the facility to protect the viability of the water supply; a stop log used to control water flow and dating back to the 1930s was replaced, modifications to the facility’s water intake structure – including changes in the intake screening device – were made, and a corroding culvert from the 1960s was also replaced.

Project leader Mike Odom described these projects as critical to the hatchery’s mission, producing fish and fresh water mussels for the Service’s population restoration efforts. The hatchery currently rears American shad, fresh water herring, stripped bass and fresh water mussels.

“Our water supply is obviously mission-critical,” said Odom. “These projects will provide us with a more reliable and better quality water supply for our fish and fresh water mussels.”

The contract for these water supply improvements was awarded to the W.L. Padden Construction Co., a small business located in Williamsburg, Virginia.

They received $82,477 to carry out the projects.

“It’s always good to have something, a check at the end of the month,” said Bill Padden. “I’m a civil engineer, I like doing these jobs.”
Padden described his company as being made up of “me and two others,” and took on a three-man subcontracting team to handle the clearing portion of the project. He was working on a building’s roof when reached for comment, wind whipping around him.

Most of the work was completed by the end of 2010. The water supply canal was completed in June 2011.

The hatchery’s main office, a red-brick structure built in 1964, was rehabilitated with Recovery Act funds. Odom described the building as being poorly insulated with drafty windows and doors. The energy efficiency upgrade provided work for a small construction company, created a more hospitable work environment, and will save the Service money by significantly reducing energy consumption. Scandia Construction and Development Corporation, a certified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, was awarded $42,000 to complete the work. The Glen Allen, Virginia – based company is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and an EnergyValue Housing Award Gold Medal winner. Work was completed in February 2011.

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Originally posted 04/01/2010
Updated 04/08/2010
Updated 06/28/2010
Updated 12/13/2010
Updated 05/19/2011
Page Completed 12/08/2011