Home / Environment / US Rivers Reclaimed: 100 Dams Down in Record Year
US Rivers Reclaimed: 100 Dams Down in Record Year
12 Aug
Summary
- 100 dams removed in 30 states, reconnecting 4,893 river miles.
- Ecology was the main driver for dam removal, cited in 59 projects.
- Record year for upstream river miles reconnected through dam removal.
In 2025, the United States saw an unprecedented year for river restoration, with 100 dams removed across 30 states. This initiative successfully reconnected more than 4,893 miles of rivers, marking the largest-ever yearly increase in upstream river miles reconnected through dam removal in the US.
Ecology was the most frequently cited reason for these removals, accounting for 59 of the completed projects. Failing structures and safety concerns were also significant factors, leading to the removal of 37 and 20 dams, respectively. The impact of these removals is swift, with aquatic life like bugs returning within days and native fish accessing historical habitats within weeks.
Notable projects include the removal of the Forest City Dam in Iowa, which reconnected 99 river miles and restored spawning habitats. In Delaware, the DuPont Experimental Station Dam removal on the Brandywine River contributed to the return of American shad, unseen for over a century. Virginia's Georges Mill Dam removal addressed safety hazards, having caused seven drownings, while also aiding the endangered orangefin madtom.
Further significant efforts occurred in Maine, where the Mill Pond Dam removal opened access to extensive spawning habitats for sea-run fish. In California and Utah, dam removals on the Jenny Creek and Virgin River, respectively, involved collaboration with Indigenous communities and national park services. American Rivers aims to build on this momentum, targeting the removal of 30,000 dams by 2050.
