American Rivers Report: Dam Removals Reconnected More River Miles in 2025 than Ever Before 

Contact: Hawk Hammer
National Communications and Media Director, Hhammer@americanrivers.org  

Washington D.C.— Communities and organizations in 30 states improved public safety and river health in 2025 by removing 100 outdated, unsafe dams, American Rivers announced today.  

These dam removals reconnected more than 4,893 miles of rivers — the most miles ever reconnected in a single year in the U.S. through dam removal. There have now been 2,350 documented dam removals in the U.S. since 1912. There are more than half a million dams obstructing rivers across the country— many of them outdated, uneconomic, and unsafe.  

Of note, more than a quarter of the dams removed in 2025 were dangerous low-head dams, often referred to as “drowning machines”. A low-head dam is a type of dam that spans the full width of a river and allows water to continuously flow over it, making it hard to see and hard to escape if caught in. Low-head dams across the country have killed hundreds of people.  

“Dam removal increases community safety in the face of extreme weather and increasing flood risk, catalyzes the growth of river recreation economies, and benefits fish and wildlife,” said Serena McClain, senior director of American Rivers’ national dam removal program. “The only way we restore rivers and experience all the associated benefits is by encouraging our elected leaders at the local, state, and federal level to tackle our nation’s aging infrastructure head-on. Time and time again, investing in healthy, free-flowing rivers pays dividends for the communities that depend on them.” 

Each of these states has a combination of policies, state agency programs, and funding that incentivize the removal of outdated infrastructure and restoration of river and floodplain habitat. Pennsylvania has been a historical leader in dam removal and river restoration, its momentum illustrating an acknowledgment of state agency leadership in prioritizing the removal of obsolete and failing infrastructure.     

Massachusetts and Vermont learned valuable lessons after significant flooding in their states highlighted the need to address failing dams and undersized road-stream crossings.  

In particular, Massachusetts’ Division of Ecological Restoration has provided much-needed funding and technical support to restore rivers, streams, and wetlands. Their effort is further supported by the Dam and Seawall Repair or Removal Program, which provides funding for critical water resource projects and is a good model for other states. Vermont’s momentum can, in part, be attributed to first-of-its-kind legislation— the Flood Safety Act— passed by the state in 2024. The law made significant investments into protecting people from the flood risk that aging dams present, while also restoring rivers and community health.  

“Removing just a single derelict dam can have a major impact across a watershed,” said McClain. “When a dam is removed, fish and wildlife can access historic spawning grounds and higher quality habitat needed to survive and thrive. The moment a dam is removed, it’s like finally breaking free from an impossible traffic jam you’ve been stuck in, in many cases, for decades.” 

The record reconnection of upstream river miles in 2025 was driven by major river stretches that were restored by projects in Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee.  

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About American Rivers 
American Rivers is championing a national effort to protect and restore all rivers, from remote mountain streams to urban waterways. Healthy rivers provide people and nature with clean, abundant water and natural habitat. For 50 years, American Rivers staff, supporters, and partners have shared a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers. For more information, please visit AmericanRivers.org.