Dam Removal
Over the past 100 years, the United States led the world in dam building. We blocked and harnessed rivers for a variety of purposes including hydropower, irrigation, flood control, water storage, recreation, and aesthetics. Today, Connecticut has more dams per river mile than any other state.
While dams can benefit society, they also come with downsides. Dams deplete fisheries, degrade river ecosystems, alter recreational opportunities, and create downstream risks to public safety. Many dams that were once at the epicenter of a community’s livelihood are now in poor condition, too expensive to maintain, or no longer serve their intended purposes.
Not all dams damage rivers in exactly the same way, and some support significant wetland growth or are very important in supporting recreational opportunities for a community. When a decision is being made whether or not to remove a dam, the benefits must be weighed against the environmental and social impacts. The links below provide information for people interested in removing a dam.
For further information contact the DEEP Dam Safety Regulatory Program at (860) 424-3706 or by email at DEEP.DamSafety@ct.gov
Content last edited August 26, 2025