For the past several years, Branch has been helping deliver a major upgrade to Route 58 over Lover’s Leap—one of the most challenging and iconic stretches of roadway in Patrick County and across Southwest Virginia. At the same time, our teams have been focused on something just as important—protecting and restoring the natural environment that surrounds this work.
As Branch transforms this steep, winding mountain corridor into a safer, more modern highway, our employee-owners have worked closely with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) to preserve—and improve—the ecosystems that define the mountains and valleys of the region.
That commitment led Branch to support a river restoration effort on the South Mayo River near Stuart, where long-standing structures were limiting the river’s natural function and creating safety concerns.
Putting the river back in charge
The South Mayo River Structure Removal Project removed two obsolete low-head dams—some dating back nearly 140 years—and two abandoned railroad bridge piers from the river near Stuart.
According to DWR, these structures trapped debris, contributed to erosion and bank scour, restricted fish passage, and posed ongoing public safety hazards. By removing them, the project restored the river’s natural flow and allowed the channel to function the way it was intended.
A collaborative restoration effort
The project was delivered through a partnership among local property owners, the Town of Stuart, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Working Lands for Wildlife, and the Dan River Basin Association.
Once complete, the project reopened 9.89 miles of upstream habitat for aquatic species already living in the South Mayo River, including state-listed and conservation-priority fish such as the Orangefin Madtom, Redlip Shiner, and Roanoke Hogsucker.
Restoring the river—carefully and responsibly
Work was scheduled during low-flow conditions and followed all seasonal restrictions designed to protect sensitive species. Each dam and pier was carefully broken apart using a hydraulic hammer, materials were removed from the channel, and the riverbed was reshaped to its natural slope and dimensions.
Beyond the environmental benefits, the project also helps set the stage for safer public access and future recreational opportunities through the Town of Stuart—an important step for a community located within a disadvantaged census tract.
For Branch, the South Mayo River project reflects how infrastructure work and environmental stewardship can—and should—go hand in hand. It’s another way our teams are working to protect communities, restore natural systems, and leave places better than we found them.
