 Environmental groups Mountain True and American Rivers are leading the dam removal and hellbender relocation. When the dam comes down, the Watauga River will flow freely once again and return to its natural state. Andy Hill is the Watauga River keeper. You know, this dam, like all dams, is a barrier to aquatic connectivity. So fish, mussels, you know, hellbenders, they can't make it through this dam. Hill joins Dalton on the bank, and the pair submerges.