Bustin’ Dams in the Mid-Atlantic
Out of 108 dams removed across the country in 2024, 39 of them came from the Mid-Atlantic region
2024 was a fantastic year for dam removals in the Mid-Atlantic region. Out of the 108 dams removed across the country, 39 (or 36%) came from the Mid-Atlantic region. What a powerhouse!
Did you know that American Rivers has three staff currently managing and providing technical assistance on dam removal projects in the Mid-Atlantic? Lisa Hollingsworth-Segedy is our resident dam buster, having been involved in more than 100 dam removals! Lisa works mostly in western Pennsylvania and the Ohio River Basin.
Jessie Thomas-Blate (that’s me!) works in eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and recently dabbles in New Jersey. Jessie also co-leads the Virginia Stream Barrier Removal Task Force, which is a community of practice focused on increasing collaboration amongst professionals working on various aspects of dam removal and road stream crossing projects. We have a similar community of practice in Pennsylvania that Lisa and Jessie help co-lead called the Pennsylvania Aquatic Connectivity Team. In fact, many states have these collaborative groups working to advance river restoration in a more coordinated way.
Newer to our team is Corinne Griffith-Butler who is supporting projects in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Corinne will be helping a lot with outreach in Maryland and helping to knock down the queue of waiting projects in Pennsylvania.
Here is the breakdown of dam removals in Mid-Atlantic states:
- Maryland: 1
- New Jersey: 2
- Ohio: 2
- Pennsylvania: 27
- Virginia: 7
Virginia
On Rock Island Creek (a James River tributary) the six-foot high Baber Mill Dam was removed after nearly 200 years. This was an important project to support the proliferation of the endangered James spinymussel by reconnecting 45 upstream river miles of habitat. Many freshwater mussels rely on species such as American eel and sea lamprey to move around in river systems. The forestry management company Weyerhaeuser worked with Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources to help restore this river.
Just slightly farther north, the long-awaited Ashland Mill Dam (13 feet high) was removed on the South Anna River in Ashland, Virginia. Davey Mitigation, a private ecological restoration firm, completed this high priority project in pursuit of mitigation credits; credits issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality that are sold to developers to offset environmental impacts of future projects in the York River watershed. This is the first time a dam removal project of this type has been implemented in Virginia using this business model, which offers a way to protect the environment at no cost to taxpayers. The dam’s removal will give access to at least seven species of fish, including American shad, that are currently blocked from accessing hundreds of miles of historical spawning and rearing habitat above the dam.
Ohio
The tallest dam removed in the Mid-Atlantic in 2024 was Timber Lake Liberty Dam (34 feet tall) on a tributary to the Olentangy River in Delaware County, Ohio.
The Warren Water Works Summit Street Dam (10 feet high) was removed as part of a large, regional effort to remove low head dams and restore water quality and habitat within the Mahoning River. Additional dam removal projects are in various stages of planning for removal upstream and downstream of the Summit Street Dam, which altogether will result in nearly 35 miles of free-flowing Mahoning River. As more of these dams and their accompanying sediments are removed, the recruitment and recovery potential of the Mahoning will improve greatly.
Pennsylvania
Wildlands Conservancy led efforts in Pennsylvania with eight dam removals in 2024. They removed six dams from the Archibald Johnston Conservation Area along the Monocacy Creek (all 4 to 8 feet tall). They also worked with the City of Easton and local agencies and partners to remove the City of Easton Lower Dam (aka Recycling Center Dam) (10 feet tall). That project was part of a larger aquatic connectivity effort to remove the first several dams along the Bushkill Creek to restore free flowing conditions to the Delaware River and Atlantic Ocean. They also partnered with PA Game Commission and PA Fish & Boat Commission to restore native brook trout habitat through the removal of a dam along SGL 129 on Dilldown Creek in Tunkhannock Township (Monroe County) (6 feet high).
New Jersey
On the eastern side of the Delaware River Basin, The Nature Conservancy removed two dams. The Paulina Lake Dam (13 feet high) removal was the final step in a four-dam removal watershed-wide restoration. The removal of all four dams on the Paulins Kill River (Columbia Remnant Dam (2018), Columbia Lake Dam (2019), County Line Dam (2021), and Paulina Dam (2024)) reconnected a total of 45 miles of mainstem and tributaries for migratory fish species including American shad, American eel, and sea lamprey. Partners (so important!) on that project included Blairstown Township, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition, the removal of the Cedar Grove Dam (8 feet high) from the Pequest River will amplify the impact that the removal of the three most downstream dams (in progress) will have on restoring aquatic connectivity and improving water quality for the benefit of fish and wildlife in the Delaware River Basin.
Collectively, the Mid-Atlantic dam removal projects from 2024 completed by American Rivers, our partners, and others reconnected more than 470 upstream river miles for the benefit of fish, wildlife, and local communities. A significant amount of time, effort, and resources went into these projects that will have innumerable benefits. This goes to show that the dams do not need to be tall to make major differences for rivers. Each dam removal plays a role.
You play a role too. We need you to reach out to your legislators and tell them that funding for river restoration and clean water are important to you! Tell them that you want our country to invest in healthy rivers for future generations.
What dams should we remove in the Mid-Atlantic in the coming years? Are there opportunities in your neighborhood? If you think there is a willing landowner, let us know about it.
