New Report Alert – Free Rivers: The State of Dam Removal in the U.S.

Published 2/17/2022 | American Rivers

Nelson Dam Removal on the Naches River| City of Yakima, Washington

Removing dams has tremendous benefits for river health, public safety and climate resilience, according to “Free Rivers: The State of Dam Removal in the U.S.,” a report released today by American Rivers. Fifty-nine dams were removed in 2021, reconnecting more than 2,290 miles of rivers. In addition, American Rivers is highlighting 25 dam removals to watch for 2022 and beyond.

As part of its leadership in river restoration, American Rivers tracks dam removal trends and maintains a national dam removal database. A recorded 1,957 dams have been removed in the U.S. since 1912. In 2021, the states leading in dam removal were:

Vermont, Pennsylvania and Oregon (7 removals each)
New Jersey (6 removals)
Wisconsin (4 removals)

South Middelton Dam on the Ipswich River in northeastern Massachusetts before removal in 2021 | Photo courtesy of Ipswich River Watershed Association — South Middleton Dam on the Ipswich River in northeastern Massachusetts before removal in 2021 | Photo courtesy of Ipswich River Watershed Association

Twenty-two states removed dams in 2021: California, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.

Successes from 2021 include:

Public safety (Hammel Woods Dam on DuPage River, Illinois)— This low-head dam was removed by the Will County Forest Preserve District because three people had drowned at the dam in recent years. This project is complemented in the broader watershed by the neighboring Forest Preserves of Cook County who have been working to remove unsafe and ecologically harmful dams on the Des Plaines and North Branch Chicago River (see our “projects to watch” list for more information).
Access and recreation (Hyde Dam on White River, Vermont)— This project involved the removal of a former mill dam from a site that had a dam as early as the 1700s. Upon completion of the dam removal project, partners will develop the historic site as a public access area for angling, swimming and boating. This project builds upon the momentum of the Vermont Dams Task Force as one of seven dam removals for Vermont in 2021.
Fish and wildlife habitat (Ward Mill Dam on Watauga River, North Carolina)— Built in 1890, this hydropower dam ranked first in the North Carolina barrier assessment tool to increase aquatic connectivity. American Rivers led this project that improved habitat for resident fish and wildlife like the Eastern hellbender (the largest salamander in the U.S.) in partnership with MountainTrue, Blue Ridge Resource Conservation and Development and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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While we busted some key dams in 2021, we all need to work together to significantly accelerate dam removal efforts nationwide if we are to prevent further declines in river health, prevent extinction of fish and wildlife, enhance our diverse communities and safeguard the public from failing dams. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed into law late last year is an important step, committing $2.4 billion for the removal, retrofit and rehabilitation of dams. Now we are urging Congress to include the 21^st Century Dams Act, a bill introduced in 2021, in the upcoming Water Resources Development Act. This will provide programmatic authority and funding authorization for the removal of dams with willing owners, funding to increase capacity of state dam safety programs and resources to support dam retrofits to improve hydropower productivity.

American Rivers also released a list of 25 dam removal “projects to watch” for 2022 and future years. This list is not exhaustive. It is meant to illustrate examples and highlight opportunities. The projects range from small dams with willing owners where river restoration will deliver important local benefits, to bigger dam removal efforts that are vital to saving species from extinction and addressing longstanding injustices across entire regions.

Wards Mill Dam on the Watauga River in North Carolina during removal | Photo by Gail Lazaras

Today, dam safety offices, fisheries managers, dam owners and communities are taking a second look at the benefits and impacts of dams. Many are deciding that removal is the best option— one that can bring significant benefits to the environment, community and economy. Every $1 million invested in restoring watersheds generates 16 jobs and up to $2.5 million for the economy. Dam removal is a proven tool to restore river health, improve public safety, revitalize fish and wildlife populations, safeguard cultural values and reconnect communities to their rivers.

American Rivers imagines a country where everyone has access to clean, safe, healthy rivers; where people don’t have to fear being evacuated from their home in the middle of the night because a dilapidated dam is about to fail and where municipal governments can invest tax dollars in community programs rather than patching up outdated infrastructure. We imagine a world where Tribal Nations’ spiritual and cultural connection to rivers, water and salmon are honored by bringing Indigenous voices to the forefront and through actions that heal our collective relationship with rivers; where the entire web of life can thrive.

We congratulate our partners across the country on their 2021 dam removal projects and look forward to busting more dams in 2022!