Breakfast Webinar: Dam Removal Case Studies

Hudson River Watershed Alliance’s 2022-2023 breakfast lecture series focuses on grant funding and technical assistance programs available to implement watershed projects. Each month features presentations on a specific opportunity, along with a local implementation case study.

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) Hudson River Estuary Program provides grant funding to dam owners that are interested in removing their dam. Dam removal is a river restoration strategy that can reconnect stream habitat, improve water quality, and reduce flooding hazards. This can be an expensive and complex process that involves close collaboration with NYS DEC regulatory staff.

Michael Fraatz, Biologist from NYS DEC Bureau of Ecosystem Health, discussed the 2021 removal of a historic dam within the Moodna Creek in the Village of Washingtonville, NY. He reviewed the work plan between the applicant and agency staff, compliance monitoring during removal, and restoration of impacted areas post-construction.

Suzette Lopane, Landscape Architect from Westchester County Planning Department, shared information on their work removing barriers on the Furnace Brook in Westchester County. The Maiden Lane Dam is no longer compliant with the latest standards for dam safety. Defunct small dams such as this one are at risk of breaching due to deterioration with age, especially since significant development within watersheds has increased impervious surface area resulting in increased surface runoff, stormwater channeling and discharge during large precipitation events.

This program is supported by funding from the Hudson River Estuary Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with support from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund, in cooperation with NEIWPCC.