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Improving - or removing - outdated, harmful dams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 And we have pioneered a science-based approach to the removal of outdated dams and other stream barriers that engages communities in restoring their rivers, motivates civic leaders to become champions and identifies state and federal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 contributed to the removal of more than 700 dams across the country.

Featured Work The 10th Anniversary of the Removal of Maine’s Edwards Dam Patapsco River, MD 58 Dams Slated For Removal Across the Country in 2009 Learn More Hydropower Dams in an Era of Global Warming Free-flowing Pennsylvania Request for Financial and/or Technical Assistance Dam Removal: Frequently asked questions (FAQs) Bringing Rivers Back to Life American Rivers and NOAA Community-Based Restoration Program River Grants 10 Ways Dams Damage Rivers

Our Work By Region Northeast Dam Removals The 10th Anniversary of the Removal of Maine’s Edwards Dam Shawsheen River, MA Penobscot River, ME Green River, MA 58 Dams Slated For Removal Across the Country in 2009 Mid-Atlantic Dam Removals Saucon Park Dam, Saucon Creek, PA Patapsco River, MD Musconetcong River, NJ Fort Covington Dam, Salmon River, NY Embrey Dam, Rappahannock River, VA Darby Creek, PA Bear Run, PA 58 Dams Slated For Removal Across the Country in 2009 Southeast Dam Removals Steeles Mill Dam, Hitchcock Creek, NC 58 Dams Slated For Removal Across the Country in 2009 Northwest Dam Removals Satus Creek Dam, WA Sandy River Basin, OR Powerdale Dam, Hood River, OR Lower Snake River, ID, OR and WA Klamath River, OR and CA Hemlock Dam, Trout Creek, WA Endersby Cutoff Culvert Retrofit, Eightmile Creek, OR Elwha River Restoration, WA Condit Dam, White Salmon River, WA 58 Dams Slated For Removal Across the Country in 2009 California Dam Removals Mattole River, CA Klamath River, OR and CA Horse Creek Dam, Horse Creek, CA 58 Dams Slated For Removal Across the Country in 2009

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