Removal
Every dam is different, but removal follows a generally predictable process that includes an initial assessment, community engagement, engineering design and permitting. Check out our "roadmap" below.
Basic Dam Removal Steps
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Initial Assessment: Is the dam a good candidate for removal?
- Determine potential benefits of removal: reduce upstream and downstream flood risk, restore aquatic habitat, eliminate barrier to fish movement, etc.
- Identify the dam owner and determine interest in removing the dam
- Determine current and potential uses of the dam
- Determine potential impacts to nearby infrastructure: roads, bridges and utilities
- Assess community support for the project
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Identify project partners and assemble project team
- Identify partners who can provide funding and technical assistance or assist with permitting and community outreach
- Select a project manager
- Assemble a team that will guide the project
- Determine if professional engineering assistance will be needed and hire an experienced engineer
- Conduct a site visit
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Gather information for preliminary project design
- Gather existing information, complete site survey and mapping, identify any sediment management and historic preservation issues
- Determine state and federal permitting requirements (most projects require a state permit issued by Vermont ANR and a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
- Develop preliminary project plans and cost estimates
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Hold stakeholder/community meetings
- Widely share preliminary plans with people in the local community (especially neighbors) and other stakeholders
- Meet on-site and individually with those most interested in the project
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Develop final engineering design, apply for permits, identify funding sources
- Finalize engineering design for sediment management during removal, infrastructure protection, channel restoration and dam removal
- Work with your engineer to develop project plans and specifications, project sequencing, staging areas and site access
- Develop an Engineers Cost Estimate for construction
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Take out the dam
- Hire a contractor and schedule the removal
- Contact local and regional media to cover the removal
- Remove the dam
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Restoration
- Plant native trees and shrubs along the bank to reduce erosion and promote biodiversity
- As the restored river reach stabilizes, revegetate as necessary
- Set up photographic monitoring points below and above the dam to monitor the rivers change post-dam removal and collect data
