The Hawks Nest Project is located on the New River, approximately 1.6 miles upstream from the point where the Gauley River joins the New River to form the Kanawha River and 0.6 miles downstream from the point where Mill Creek flows into the New River. The dam is located approximately 2 miles from the Town of Ansted in Fayette County, West Virginia.
The Hawks Nest Project (FERC Project No. 2512) is operated by Brookfield Renewable Energy Group and is composed of a 243-acre impoundment, a concrete-gravity dam and spillway, a 5.5-mile-long bypass reach and other appurtenances.

On December 22, 2017, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) issued a new license or the continued operation and maintenance of the Project pursuant to the Commission’s delegated authority under the Federal Power Act.

Recreation facilities at the Hawks Nest Project are provided and maintained in cooperation with the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources. Refer to the Recreation Management Plan on file with FERC for additional information.

Hawks Nest State Park – The 838-acre Hawks Nest State Park, which offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities and amenities, is operated and maintained by WVDNR. Refer to the WV State Park website for additional information.

Cotton Hill Bridge Day Use Area – Day-use facility located at the northeast terminus of the Cotton Hill Bridge (SR 16) as it crosses the New River. Offers gravel parking and a series of informal trails that provide access to the bypass reach. Provides opportunities for hiking, wildlife observation, fishing access, and informal launch site for whitewater paddlers.

Hawks Nest Tailrace Fishing Access Area – Day-use facility located on river right (looking downstream, adjacent to the powerhouse. Includes a paved parking area, steps down to an angler access and a fenced walkway to a catwalk fishing platform.

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Participant safety depends on being aware of the surroundings and obeying all signage, sirens, and barriers. The reach of the New River between Hawks Nest Dam and the powerhouse (“bypass reach”) is a narrow and steep gorge, with limited areas to safely enter or exit the river. Water releases from Hawks Nest Dam or the surge basin may change without notice due to unanticipated changes in weather, river conditions, or power system requirements. Release of water from the surge basin would be expected to be within the range of the flow that is being diverted through the tunnel to the powerhouse, but the release would be sudden to the reach below the surge basin. There is the potential for a larger quantity of water to be released from the dam, depending on the nature of the release.

In the event of an emergency release of water, a warning siren will sound at the dam and at locations approximately 1 mile (Cotton Hill Bridge), 3 miles (surge basin), and 5 miles (powerhouse) downstream. There may be a delay from the time of the siren to the arrival of the flow release.

• The water release could result in a significant increase in water flow and a high danger risk to recreational visitors in the bypass reach. When recreational visitors hear the siren, Hawks Nest Hydro strongly recommends that they immediately exit the river channel and seek higher ground.
• The siren will signal an increase in water flow. When the siren ends, water levels may still be in the process of rising and flows may remain elevated and the bypass reach unsafe for use for some period of time. Recreational visitors should not assume that it is safe to re-enter the bypass reach when the siren ends.

In the event of an emergency, call 911. Visitors are cautioned that cellular phones and other communication devices may not function at several locations within the bypass reach, and emergency responders do not have ready access to this reach of the New River.
Scheduled recreation flow releases are provided several times a year. Whitewater opportunities exist under a range of river conditions. For all in-river recreation, Hawks Nest Hydro expects all visitors to abide by American Whitewater’s Safety Code (American Whitewater, 2005) and reminds all visitors:

• Due to rough terrain and channel conditions, only professional-grade whitewater crafts are appropriate for use. The bypass reach is NOT safe for floating or tubing under any flow condition.
• Plan for a minimum of 3 hours to paddle the bypass reach in an appropriate craft. There are no take-out locations between the Cotton Hill Bridge and the powerhouse.

Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device and helmet.