Over the years a lot of mostly small (under 25 feet tall) dams were built across the country to provide water, power or both to small towns or for private pursuits, and it is important to remove those old dams when they are no longer needed or have become unsafe or an impediment to the health of the river or creek that was dammed.
American Rivers, a nonprofit organization is a major advocate of dam removal and maintains a list of dams that have been removed and those still needing to be.
An excerpt.
Dams Slated For Removal In 2006 & Dams Removed From 1999-2005
Horse Creek Dam, Horse Creek, CA: This 12-foot dam is located in the Sisquoc Wild and Scenic River corridor of the Los Padres National Forest. The dam is a complete barrier to the endangered southern steelhead and is being removed to restore access to approximately 13 miles of habitat. Removal is expected to occur sometime in fall 2006. This project was funded in part through the partnership between NOAA Community-based Restoration Program and American Rivers. Contact Steve Rothert, American Rivers, (530) 478-5672, srothert@amrivers.org.
Zemko Dam, East Branch of Eightmile River, CT: The Zemko Dam, formerly a privately owned structure recently purchased by The Nature Conservancy, is a five-foot high stone and earthen fill structure slated for removal in fall/winter 2006. The removal is expected to restore migratory fish access to historic spawning and nursery habitat for Atlantic salmon, sea lamprey and American eel. The project was funded in part through a partnership between NOAA Community-based Restoration Program and American Rivers. Contact Laura Wildman, American Rivers, (860) 652-9911, lwildman@amrivers.org.
Ballou Dam, Yokum Brook, MA: This 10-foot tall by 50-foot long concrete dam was originally part of a now closed mill complex. At this point essentially abandoned and useless, the dam blocks a cold water trout stream and is a potential salmon restoration site. Ballou Dam is being removed by the town and the project is likely to be partially funded by the Massachusetts Riverways program. It should be completed in late 2006. Contact Jim MacBroom, Milone & MacBroom, (203) 271-1773, jimm@miloneandmacbroom.com.
Upper Cook’s Canyon Dam, Galloway Brook, MA: This is a low-hazard 9.5-foot high and 84-foot long earthen berm dam with a concrete and wood control structure. It serves no current purpose and is being removed because of the owner’s liability concerns and also to promote coldwater fish passage. The dam was removed in June 2006. Contact Brian Graber, Massachusetts Riverways, (617) 626-1526, brian.graber@state.ma.us.
Robbins Dike Dam, Red Brook, MA: This is an earthen berm dam with a wood control structure. It is estimated to be 5.5 feet high and 100 feet long. Built in the early 1900s, the dam was meant to promote trout spawning in a fishery created by the impoundment. As understanding of fish behavior and spawning habits has improved since those times, the dam is now being removed, likey in fall 2006, because it is a barrier to migratory fish and salt/brook trout. Contact Brian Graber, Massachusetts Riverways, (617) 626-1526, brian.graber@state.ma.us.
PPG Rubble Dam, Potomac River, MD: (Cumberland County) The PPG Dam, once owned by the Pittsburg Plate Glass company and now by Allegany County, was originally built to impound water for a pumping station that pumped river water for industrial uses. Today it serves no function and is scheduled for removal in summer or fall 2006. The 10-foot high dam, constructed of boulders, impounds half a mile of the Potomac River and is being removed both to reduce a navigational hazard, thus increasing boating opportunities, and to promote easier passage of American eel. Along with the already-completed Octoraro Dam removal, this removal represents one of the first in Maryland. The project was funded in part through a partnership between NOAA Community-based Restoration Program and American Rivers. Contact Jim Thompson, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, (410) 260-8279, jthompson@dnr.state.md.us.
