Dams and Dam Removal

Improving - or removing - outdated, harmful dams

Few things have such a fundamental impact on a river as a dam. Dams block a river's flow and can harm clean water, fish and wildlife, and recreation opportunities. American Rivers plays a leadership role in the Hydropower Reform Coalition, working to reform dam operations to more closely approximate natural river flows and benefit fish, wildlife and communities. And we have pioneered a science-based approach to the removal of outdated dams and other stream barriers that engages communities in restoring their rivers, motivates civic leaders to become champions and identifies state and federal funds to make the removals possible. Our expertise and advocacy have directly contributed to the removal of more than 150 dams across the country. We have also contributed indirectly to numerous other projects by helping government agencies and nonprofits expand their capacity to restore rivers through trainings and focused program assistance.

Featured Work Bear Run, PA Patapsco River, MD The 10th Anniversary of the Removal of Maine’s Edwards Dam Learn More 10 Ways Dams Damage Rivers Bringing Rivers Back to Life Dam Removal: Frequently asked questions (FAQs) Free-flowing Pennsylvania Request for Financial and/or Technical Assistance Hydropower Dams in an Era of Global Warming Stream Barrier Removal Grants

Our Work By Region Northeast Dam Removals Green River, MA Penobscot River, ME Shawsheen River, MA The 10th Anniversary of the Removal of Maine’s Edwards Dam Mid-Atlantic Dam Removals Bear Run, PA Darby Creek, PA Embrey Dam, Rappahannock River, VA Fort Covington Dam, Salmon River, NY Musconetcong River, NJ Patapsco River, MD Saucon Park Dam, Saucon Creek, PA Southeast Dam Removals Steeles Mill Dam, Hitchcock Creek, NC Northwest Dam Removals Condit Dam, White Salmon River, WA Elwha River Restoration, WA Endersby Cutoff Culvert Retrofit, Eightmile Creek, OR Hemlock Dam, Trout Creek, WA Klamath River, OR and CA Lower Snake River, ID, OR and WA Powerdale Dam, Hood River, OR Sandy River Basin, OR Satus Creek Dam, WA California Dam Removals Horse Creek Dam, Horse Creek, CA Klamath River, OR and CA Mattole River, CA

Press Releases A 21st century flood management strategy for New Jersey (03/16/10) A 21st century flood management strategy for Massachusetts (03/16/10) American Rivers Selected as 2010 Orvis Conservation Grantee (03/03/10) Blog Posts Unsafe Dams Threaten Communities Nationwide (03/08/10) And the Oscar goes to…the effort to remove Matilija Dam! (03/08/10) World's biggest river restoration kicks off Thurs at official ceremony in Oregon (02/16/10) More