2010: A Dam Removal Retrospective

January 10, 2011 | Dams & Dam Removal, Restoring Rivers

Serena McClain
Director, River Restoration, Federal Grants

Throughout 2010 we reported back to you on exciting dam removals happening all across the United States. From the removal that helped keep a local company from laying off employees to the restoration of more than 333 miles of habitat on the mighty Rogue River in Oregon, rivers across the country once again sprang to life. Our year-end survey reveals that these are just two of the 59 dams that were dismantled in 14 states.

Curious how your state fared?

• Pennsylvania once again outpaced other states with 30 removals, continuing to demonstrate its commitment to dam safety and restoring access to historic spawning grounds for migratory fish.
• Partners in Maine undertook three dam removal projects this past year, including the long-debated removal of the West Winterport Dam on Marsh Stream.
• The first two dams of an effort aimed at restoring the mainstem Patapsco River in Maryland were removed.
• Massachusetts and Michigan had a strong showing with the removal of five dams per state.
• New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont each removed two dams that were no longer serving a useful purpose.
• California, New York, North Carolina and Virginia each eliminated one dam from their state’s waterways.

Check back to view the full list when we release it in the next couple of weeks. Also, if you don’t see your state listed above but know of a dam that was removed in 2010, feel free to leave us a comment about it.

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