Record Number of States Removed Dams in 2019

Removing dams brings life back into rivers. Regeneration comes at a shocking pace. Migratory species, such as salmon, can even return after decades of local extinction. This report by American Rivers outlines some huge successes in the growing movement to remove dams and restore our rivers.

More states are getting involved in restoring rivers through dam removal, and it is wonderful to see. Private citizens and companies, municipalities, organizations, state and federal agencies are getting engaged in restoring river health across the country.

The top four states removing outdated dams in 2019 were:

California – 23 dams removed
Pennsylvania – 14 dams removed
New Hampshire and Vermont– 6 dams removed

 American Rivers is the only organization maintaining a record of dam removals in the United States. Their organization is definitely worth checking out.

North Carolina’s Cane River Dam, mid-removal, 2016