American Rivers to Begin Removal of Two Juniata River Dams to Restore Wildlife Habitat, River Health, and Increase Public Safety
Contact: Hawk Hammer, National Communications and Media Director, Hhammer@americanrivers.org
8/7/25 BEDFORD, PA – Construction to remove two obsolete dams on the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River Water Trail, located near the Fort Bedford Museum in downtown Bedford, is scheduled to begin Monday, August 11.
Led by American Rivers, the project will also include a “Twilight Picnic” public event at the project site of the Paul Reighard Dam. The public is invited to bring lawn chairs and a picnic supper from 5-7 pm Thursday August 14 and observe work underway. American Rivers staff will be available to answer questions about the project. This location is accessible along the trail near the Fort Bedford Museum.
“These dams have not only contributed to excessive flooding, but they have also been detrimental to our local ecosystem and have been a safety concern for decades. As the dams have slowed down the flow of the river, they have also slowed down the flow of progress here in our community,” Kenny Fetterman, Councilman, Borough of Bedford. “They have repeatedly caused damage to our riverfront park, as well as to residences, and businesses. The time for their removal is long overdue.”
The removal of these low-head dams will reconnect over 156 miles of river. Once completed, the project will support long-term ecological restoration efforts throughout the Juniata River system and the larger Chesapeake Bay watershed.
“Pennsylvania has been leading the nation’s efforts to remove outdated dams and heal their damaged rivers so that they can be a resource for all,” said Lisa Hollingsworth-Segedy, director of river restoration for American Rivers in the Mid-Atlantic. “Healthy, free-flowing rivers make for healthy, happy communities and we are thrilled to get this project underway.”
The dam removals are being supported by local, state, and national conservation organizations, as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“When given the chance, rivers ecosystems can bounce back incredibly quickly,” said Corinne Griffith-Butler, associate director of river restoration for American Rivers. “These dams have blocked core functions of this river system for more than five decades and yet signs of the recovery process could begin in minutes with fish and American eels able to swim freely once more.”
Caution tape and construction fencing will be installed the Juniata River Water Trail, located near the Fort Bedford Museum in downtown Bedford to indicate areas that are unsafe for the public during dam removal construction activities. Visitors to the park should observe these safety markings and stay out of the construction zone.
More than 2,000 dams have been removed across the United States since 1912. Dam removal enhances public safety, improves fish and aquatic habitat, safeguards cultural values, and reconnects communities to their rivers. River restoration also benefits the economy: every $1 million invested in restoring watersheds generates 16 jobs and up to $2.5 million in economic benefits.
###
American Rivers is a national conservation organization working to make every river clean and healthy for people and wildlife. We combine evidence-based solutions with enduring partnerships to safeguard the 3.5 million miles of rivers and streams that are essential to our nation’s clean drinking water, extraordinary wildlife, and strength of our communities. For more than 50 years, our staff, supporters, and partners have been driven by a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers. AmericanRivers.org