Many dam owners choose to remove their dams in order to reduce their liability and eliminate the long-term cost of inspections and repairs. The Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) helps interested …

Dec 15, 2025 · The Healey-Driscoll Administration provides $350,000 for dam removal studies in Massachusetts to improve habitats, increase climate resilience, and enhance public safety.

Dam removal is the process of demolishing a dam, returning water flow to the river [1]. Arguments for dam removal consider whether their negative effects outweigh their benefits. The benefits of dams …

Feb 4, 2025 · More than 30,000 small dams currently block river tributaries from Maine to Maryland. New initiatives to remove them are aimed at restoring natural flows, improving habitat for aquatic life, …

Feb 19, 2025 · With more than 3,000 dams in Massachusetts, most of which no longer serve their intended purpose, dam removal presents an effective strategy for river restoration.

The exact removal method for a dam depends on the size of the structure, the material it is made of, and several other factors. In most cases, blowing up a dam is not feasible because of the potential for …

All repairs are the responsibility of the dam owner. The cost to repair and rehabilitate a dam can exceed the owner’s financial abilities. Many dam owners choose to remove their dams to eliminate ongoing …