Extending 5.5 miles downstream from Hawks Nest Dam, the Dries section of the New River gets its name from having most of its flow diverted into a 3-mile-long tunnel connected to a hydropower plant near Gauley Bridge.

A minimum flow of 100 cubic feet of water per second flows out of Hawks Nest Dam to support aquatic life in the Dries.

9.62x5.18 HAWKSNESTDAM The 'dries' section of the New River below Hawks Nest Dam Photo by chris dorst