Freshwater in Focus

New England is home to more than 14,000 dams—centuries-old structures once considered engineering marvels that powered sawmills, grist mills and textile factories—making our rivers the most densely dammed-up waterways in the country. With the advancement of both modern machines and global trade came a departure from needing local, in-stream power generation, leaving the vast majority of these small dams abandoned but intact. Today, many of these dams are now derelict, no longer good for power but rather effective at deteriorating water quality, blocking fish from upstream movement and creating flood vulnerabilities for our towns and communities.

Here in Vermont, several groups, The Nature Conservancy included, are focused on removing these barriers to restore and reconnect our rivers. Using a TNC-developed dam-removal screening tool, alongside best available science, we are partnering with other organizations and agencies to leverage resources, line up contractors and un-dam our waterways.

Tucked away in Western Vermont, just north of Lake Bomoseen, stands one such derelict dam. The 8-foot-high concrete barrier, built in 1900, has truncated several tributaries to create Austin Pond. Though a spot for local recreation for several decades, the pond is no longer what it once was. When asked about the state of the pond today, the owners of the Austin Pond dam, Katie and Cameron Stiles, said, “Sadly, the years of swimming and sailing little sunfish around on Austin Pond have long since passed. Austin Pond has become increasingly unusable for recreation over the past 20 years as the amount of invasive aquatic plant life in the pond increased.”

Blocking fish migration, altering sediment flow and ultimately reducing overall ecological and climate resilience value, the dam is now in the early phases of removal. By slowly taking the dam down over time, we can manage for changes in water flow, prevent rapid changes in sediment and allow for the reestablishment of riparian and wetland habitat.

Being the owners of a derelict dam rated in "unsatisfactory" quality by the Vermont Dam Safety Program has weighed heavily on Katie and Cameron. “We have spent every heavy rain event worried about a potential dam failure and what that could mean for the downstream area. The pressure we felt as dam owners of a deteriorating dam was released with the pressure on the deteriorating dam itself. We are happy to have contributed positively to our community’s flood resilience and recreational safety.”

Projects like the one at Austin Pond are powerful. Once complete, 11 miles of river will be reconnected for aquatic migration and nearly 40 acres of wetlands will be restored. The removal of a single dam has the ability to restore natural habitat, improve water quality and reduce both flood and drought vulnerability—benefiting both people and nature.

As our climate changes, we can expect more frequent flooding interspersed with longer periods of drought. Reconnecting our rivers to their floodplains and wetlands is an essential tool in our ability—and the ability of other species—to adapt.

One by one, The Nature Conservancy and our partners in Vermont are working together to remove the barriers that have disconnected our rivers.