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Improving - or removing - outdated, harmful dams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 And we have pioneered a science-based approach to the removal of outdated dams and other stream barriers that engages communities in restoring their rivers, motivates civic leaders to become champions and identifies state and federal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 58 Dams Slated For Removal Across the Country in 2009 Patapsco River, MD The 10th Anniversary of the Removal of Maine’s Edwards Dam Learn More 10 Ways Dams Damage Rivers American Rivers and NOAA Community-Based Restoration Program River Grants 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	Our Work By Region Northeast Dam Removals 58 Dams Slated For Removal Across the Country in 2009 Green River, MA Penobscot River, ME Shawsheen River, MA The 10th Anniversary of the Removal of Maine’s Edwards Dam Mid-Atlantic Dam Removals 58 Dams Slated For Removal Across the Country in 2009 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 58 Dams Slated For Removal Across the Country in 2009 Steeles Mill Dam, Hitchcock Creek, NC Northwest Dam Removals 58 Dams Slated For Removal Across the Country in 2009 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 58 Dams Slated For Removal Across the Country in 2009 Horse Creek Dam, Horse Creek, CA Klamath River, OR and CA Mattole River, CA	Dam Removals in Action Press Releases Contract for Largest Dam Removal in US History to be Awarded Today (08/26/10) Bids Accepted for Simkins Dam Removal (08/19/10) Pressure Mounts on Stanford University to Consider Removing Searsville Dam to Restore Steelhead Trout and San Francisquito Creek (07/21/10) Blog Posts Sediment Behind Klamath River Dams Not Harmful (08/31/10) Powerdale Dam Removal Underway on Oregon's Hood River (08/19/10) Gold Ray Dam on the Rogue River is coming out! (08/18/10) More