A Citizen's Guide to Dams, Hydropower, and River Restoration in ...

Dam RemovalsRemoval of theseven-foot-highQuaker Neck Dam in1997 in North Carolinaopened up 1,000miles of upstreamspawning habitat formigratory fish.Dams have been built across the United States, andthey have also been removed across the nation forsafety, environmental, and economic reasons. A reportissued in 1999 documented nearly 500 dams that havebeen removed across the country, yet other estimateshave placed the number at 1,000 or more, most ofwhich have been small, non-hydropower dams.Officials in Wisconsin estimate that as many as 500dams have been removed in that state alone. Sixtythreedams in 15 states and the District of Columbiawere scheduled for removal in 2002.Dams have been removed throughout historywhen it made sense to do so in terms of costs or safety,or when the original purpose of the dam had been served. Damsbuilt to generate power for sawmillsin remote forests, for example,were removed when the harvestingoperation was over.What is new in recent years,however, is the consideration ofenvironmental benefits that can beachieved through selective damremovals. Communities across thenation are viewing dam removals as ameans of creating healthier rivers andstreams.The removal of a dam can have aThis map depicts 586 documenteddam removals in the United States,including 63 slated for removalin 2002.– Source: American Riverssubstantial, positive impact for a river orstream. Most significantly, it can restoreaccess to upstream habitat and spawningareas for migratory and resident fish.Improved water quality, increasedspecies diversity, and enhancedAbove: The Guilford Dam, onthe E. Branch of the SebasticookRiver in Newport, was removedin 2002 as part of an economicdevelopment plan for thecommunity.Right: Atlantic salmon need tobe able to return to their nativespawning grounds to reproduce.ecosystem function also can be achieved through a dam removal.Most of the dam removals that have occurred or are under discussionin the U.S. involve small dams.Maine has had several highly successful dam removals – whichhave resulted in significant benefits for Maine’s environment. Theseprojects have been the result of collaborative efforts involvingcitizens; local, state and federal government agencies; and variousorganizations.Removal of the Smelt Hill Dam on the Presumpscot River inOctober 2002, for example, was called “a resurrection of this river”by Edward Kitchel, chairman of the Falmouth Town Council.10 A Citizen’s Guide to River Restoration