Congress authorized the United States Department of Agriculture in 1953 to carry out a flood prevention and erosion control program for Salem Fork. The project consisted of seven earth dams along with land treatment measures to control flooding and soil erosion. In 1959, the project was recognized as the most outstanding in the nation and received the “Watershed Project of the Year” award. Participating agencies were the Salem Fork of Tenmile Watershed Association, the West Fork Soil Conservation District, the Soil Conservation Service, and the Forest Service.