List of dam removals in Massachusetts
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of dams in Massachusetts that have been removed as physical impediments to free-flowing rivers or streams.
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Removals by watershed
Housatonic River
The Tel-Electric Dam was removed from the West Branch Housatonic River in Pittsfield in 2020. The project required safely disposing of 8,000 tons (7,300 metric tons) of sediment contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyl pollution from a General Electric plant. The project cost around $4 million and benefited an environmental justice community as defined by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.[1]
South River
Proposed removals
The North and South Rivers Watershed Association is working with town, state, and private stakeholders on the South River Restoration Project, which will remove three dams blocking fish migration on the South River.[2]
Taunton River
The structurally deficient High Street Dam was the most downstream barrier on the Town River to fish migrating from Narragansett Bay via the Taunton River. Its removal in 2023 opened 10 miles (16 km) of river to fish passage as well as 354 acres (143 ha) of spawning habitat in Lake Nippenicket.[3]
Connecticut River
Westfield River
The 2014 removal of a dam from the Westfield River tributary Kinne Brook in Chester was a collaboration between Trout Unlimited, the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, the National Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and a private landowner. It was part of a larger project to restore 10 mi (16 km) of stream, which also involved the replacement of two culverts.[4][5]
Sam Mill River
Dudleyville Pond Dam on the Saw Mill River in Shutesbury underwent emergency removal in summer 2024 following an American Rivers study showing the dam was an imminent public safety risk. The Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration removed the dam at a cost of $118,000 within a month of the town's Conservation Commission issuing an emergency certification for its removal. The project was noted for its unusually rapid timeline.[6]
Ware River
The Wheelwright Pond Dam removal over the Ware River in Wheelwright (Hardwick) and New Braintree occurred in 2025 to 2026. The total project cost is estimated at $4 million, mostly with State and Federal dollars. It was a collaboration between the East Quabbin Land Trust and the dam's private owner, Raitto Engineering & Manufacturing Co. This project reconnected 130 miles of high-quality freshwater habitat in the Ware River Watershed, the most continuous stream miles in Massachusetts. The dam was built in the 1800s or early 1900s, and it's poor condition prompted Massachusetts to upgrade the status of the dam to a high-hazard level to public safety. It was the largest dam removal in Massachusetts.[7] The dam removal project was made possible by East Quabbin Land Trust's purchase of the former Tanner–Hiller Airport, which is in the process of being converted into the Menameset Habitat and the Mass Central Rail Trail.[8]
Completed removals
| Dam[9] | Height | Year removed | Location | Watercourse | Watershed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moody St. Feeder Dam | 12 ft (3.7 m) | ||||
| May Brook Dam[10] | 5 to 6 ft (1.5 to 1.8 m)[11] | 2009 | Windsor | May Brook | |
| Robbins Dike Dam | 5.5 ft (1.7 m) | 2006 | Plymouth 41.7665°N 70.6351°W |
Red Brook | Buttermilk Bay |
| New Way Dam | 2 ft (0.61 m) | 2008 | Wareham 41.7659°N 70.6346°W | ||
| Lower Flume Dam | 2009 | Wareham 41.7653°N 70.6341°W | |||
| Upper Flume Dam | 2009 | Wareham 41.7653°N 70.6342°W | |||
| Beaver Dam Brook Dam | 12 ft (3.7 m) | 2016 | Plymouth 41.9013°N 70.5712°W |
Beaver Dam Brook | Cape Cod Bay |
| West Beaver Dam Brook - Lower Berm | 5 ft (1.5 m) | 2020 | Plymouth 41.9163°N 70.5699°W |
West Beaver Dam Brook | |
| West Beaver Dam Brook - Upper Berm | 3 ft (0.91 m) | 2020 | Plymouth 41.9153°N 70.5711°W | ||
| Sandwich Game Farm Dam | 2006 | East Sandwich 41.7311°N 70.4273°W |
Mill Creek | ||
| Curtis Pond Dam | 2012 | Middleton 42.6183°N 71.0039°W |
Boston Brook | Charles River | |
| Lower Dam | 8 ft (2.4 m) | 2009 | Rowley 42.74°N 70.8881°W |
Ox Pasture Brook | |
| Traphole Brook Dam | 8 ft (2.4 m) | 2022 | Norwood 42.1606°N 71.1942°W |
Traphole Brook | |
| Charles River Mill Dam (Pearl Street Mill Dam) | 13.5 ft (4.1 m) | 2017 | Bellingham 42.1307°N 71.4447°W |
Charles River | |
| Upper Cook's Canyon Dam | 9.5 ft (2.9 m) | 2006 | Barre 42.4145°N 72.1066°W |
Galloway Brook | Chicopee River |
| Falmouth Rod & Gun Club Dam | 10 ft (3.0 m) | 2021 | Falmouth 41.5933°N 70.5249°W |
Childs River | Childs River |
| Coonamessett Lower Bog Dam | 2017 | Falmouth 41.5819°N 70.5734°W |
Coonamessett River | Coonamessett River | |
| Coonamessett River Lower Dam | 6 ft (1.8 m) | 2018 | Falmouth 41.5853°N 70.5726°W | ||
| Middle Bog Dam | 6 ft (1.8 m) | 2020 | Falmouth 41.5853°N 70.5726°W | ||
| International Paper Co. Dam No. 2 | 10 ft (3.0 m) | 2014 | Greenfield and Gill 42.6255°N 72.5488°W |
Fall River | Fall River |
| Bartlett Rod Shop Co. Dam | 20 ft (6.1 m) | 2012 | Pelham 42.379°N 72.4722°W |
Amethyst Brook | Fort River |
| Timber Dam | 5 ft (1.5 m) | 2016 | Pelham 42.3794°N 72.471°W | ||
| Hall Brook Dam | 2009 | Adams 42.6243°N 73.1241°W |
Hoxie Brook | Hoosic River | |
| Briggsville Dam | 15 ft (4.6 m) | 2010 | Clarksburg 42.7147°N 73.083°W |
North Branch Hoosic River | |
| Thunder Brook Restoration Project | 15 ft (4.6 m) | 2012 | Cheshire 42.5649°N 73.1768°W |
Thunder Brook | |
| Lower Hathaway Brook Dam | 2010 | Dalton 42.4215°N 73.186°W |
Hathaway Brook | Housatonic River | |
| Upper Hathaway Brook Dam | 2010 | Dalton 42.4204°N 73.1854°W | |||
| Old Berkshire Mill Dam | 2000 | Dalton 42.4706°N 73.1691°W |
Housatonic River | ||
| Gravesleigh Pond Dam | 6 ft (1.8 m) | 2013 | Pittsfield 42.4295°N 73.2365°W |
Sackett Brook | |
| Tel-Electric Dam[1] | 22 ft (6.7 m) | 2020 | Pittsfield 42.4471°N 73.2638°W |
West Branch Housatonic River | |
| Lyman Pond Dam | 12 ft (3.7 m) | 2022 | Southampton 42.2174°N 72.7303°W |
Manhan River | Manhan River |
| Mordecai Lincoln Road Pond Dam (Hunters Pond Dam) | 11 ft (3.4 m) | 2017 | Scituate 42.2231°N 70.7887°W |
Bound Brook | Massachusetts Bay |
| Balmoral Dam | 6 ft (1.8 m) | 2017 | Andover 42.6724°N 71.1494°W |
Shawsheen River | Merrimack River |
| Marland Place Dam (Stevens Street Dam) | 12 ft (3.7 m) | 2017 | Andover 42.6623°N 71.1468°W | ||
| Roberts Meadow Upper Reservoir Dam[12] | 30 ft (9.1 m) | 2018 | Northampton 42.338°N 72.7279°W |
Roberts Meadow Brook | Mill River |
| Phillipston Reservoir Dam #1 | 15 ft (4.6 m) | 2012 | Phillipston 42.5789°N 72.1752°W |
Thousand Acre Brook | Millers River |
| Phillipston Reservoir Dam #2 | 8 ft (2.4 m) | 2012 | Phillipston 42.5784°N 72.1735°W | ||
| Whites Mill Pond Dam[13][14] | 2023 | Winchendon 42.6940°N 72.0121°W |
Tributary to North Branch Millers River | ||
| Carding Mill Dam | 8 ft (2.4 m) | 2014 | Harwich 41.6709°N 70.062°W |
Cold River | Nantucket Sound |
| Gulf Brook Dam | 10 ft (3.0 m) | 2021 | Pepperell 42.6991°N 71.6352°W |
Gulf Brook | Nashua River |
| Millie Turner Dam | 10 ft (3.0 m) | 2015 | Pepperell 42.6748°N 71.5818°W |
Nissitissit River | |
| Sucker Brook Dam | 7 ft (2.1 m) | 2021 | Pepperell 42.6839°N 71.6096°W |
Sucker Brook | |
| Bartlett Pond Dam | 2014 | Lancaster 42.4883°N 71.7141°W |
Wekepeke Brook | ||
| Mill Pond Dam | 5 to 9 ft (1.5 to 2.7 m) | 2014 | Hanover 42.1397°N 70.8355°W |
Third Herring Brook | North River |
| Tack Factory Dam | 10 ft (3.0 m) | 2016 | Hanover 42.1227°N 70.9082°W | ||
| Unnamed Low Head Dams | 3 ft (0.91 m) | 2022 | Hanover 42.1466°N 70.8388°W | ||
| Peterson Pond Dam | 10 ft (3.0 m) | 2020 | Hanover and Norwell 42.1437°N 70.8376°W | ||
| Eel River Headwaters Restoration (7 small dams) | 8 ft (2.4 m) | 2009 | Plymouth | Eel River | Plymouth Bay |
| Sawmill Pond Dam | 12 ft (3.7 m) | 2010 | Plymouth 41.9113°N 70.6408°W | ||
| Wapping Road Dam | 6.6 ft (2.0 m) | 2011 | Kingston 41.9929°N 70.7484°W |
Jones River | |
| Elm Street Dam | 9 ft (2.7 m) | 2019 | Kingston 41.99°N 70.73°W | ||
| Billington Street Dam | 2002 | Plymouth 41.9508°N 70.6731°W |
Town Brook | ||
| Off Billington Street Dam | 8.4 ft (2.6 m) | 2013 | Plymouth 41.949°N 70.6741°W | ||
| Plymco Dam | 16 ft (4.9 m) | 2015 | Plymouth 41.9465°N 70.6739°W | ||
| Holmes Dam | 19 ft (5.8 m) | 2018 | Plymouth 41.9525°N 70.6687°W | ||
| Wellingsly Dam #1 | 3 to 5 ft (0.91 to 1.52 m) | 2012 | Plymouth 41.949°N 70.6534°W |
Wellingsly Brook | |
| Wellingsly Dam #2 | 3 to 5 ft (0.91 to 1.52 m) | 2012 | Plymouth 41.949°N 70.6534°W | ||
| Wellingsly Dam #3 | 3 to 5 ft (0.91 to 1.52 m) | 2012 | Plymouth 41.949°N 70.6534°W | ||
| Hamant Brook Lower Pond Dam | 10 ft (3.0 m) | 2017 | Old Sturbridge Village Sturbridge 42.0977°N 72.0918°W |
Hamant Brook | Quinebaug River |
| Hamant Brook Middle Pond Dam | 13 ft (4.0 m) | 2017 | Sturbridge 42.095°N 72.0946°W | ||
| Hamant Brook Upper Pond Dam | 11 ft (3.4 m) | 2017 | Sturbridge 42.0928°N 72.0955°W | ||
| Dudleyville Pond Dam (Brown's Dam)[6] | 2024 | Shutesbury 42.4850°N 72.4444°W |
Sawmill River | Sawmill River | |
| Forge Pond Dam | 2010 | Freetown 41.8028°N 71.0523°W |
Assonet River | Taunton River | |
| Bleachery Dam (Rattlesnake Brook Dam) | 7 ft (2.1 m) | 2016 | Freetown 41.7811°N 71.0864°W | ||
| West Street Dam | 12 ft (3.7 m) | 2022 | Foxborough 42.0384°N 71.275°W |
Cocasset River | |
| Barstowe's Pond Dam | 8.5 ft (2.6 m) | 2018 | Taunton 41.8823°N 71.0485°W |
Cotley River | |
| Hopewell Mills Dam | 8 ft (2.4 m) | 2012 | Taunton 41.9147°N 71.0969°W |
Mill River | |
| Whittenton Dam | 8 ft (2.4 m) | 2013 | Taunton 41.9243°N 71.1063°W | ||
| West Britannia Dam | 8 ft (2.4 m) | 2018 | Taunton 41.919°N 71.1015°W | ||
| Carver Cotton Gin Pond Dam | 15 ft (4.6 m) | 2017 | East Bridgewater 42.0214°N 70.951°W |
Satucket River | |
| High Street Dam | 12.5 ft (3.8 m) | 2023 | Bridgewater 42.0025°N 70.9822°W |
Town River | |
| Wheelwright Pond Dam[7] | 12 ft (3.7 m) | 2026 | New Braintree | Ware River | Ware River |
| Kinne Brook Dam (Stroud Dam) | 6 ft (1.8 m) | 2014 | Chester 42.3085°N 72.9078°W |
Kinne Brook | Westfield River |
| Winchell Dam | 14.5 ft (4.4 m) | 2016 | Granville 42.0838°N 72.8421°W |
Westfield River | |
| Silk Mill Dam | 15 ft (4.6 m) | 2003 | Becket 42.3283°N 73.0836°W |
Yokum Brook | |
| Ballou Dam | 10 ft (3.0 m) | 2006 | Becket 42.3319°N 73.0834°W | ||
| Horseshoe Pond Dam | 6 ft (1.8 m) | 2020 | Wareham 41.7653°N 70.7476°W |
Weweantic River | Weweantic River |
| Lyman Pond Dam No. 2 | 2024 | Waltham | Chester Brook | ||
| Quinapoxet Accretion Dam | 2024 | West Boylston | Quinapoxet River | ||
| Becker Pond Dam | 2025 | Mt. Washington |
Planned and proposed removals
| Dam | Expected year | Location | Watercourse | Watershed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Talbot Mills Dam[15] | Billerica 42.5918°N 71.2840°W |
Concord River | Merrimack River | |
| Veterans Memorial Park Dam[2] | Marshfield 42.0948°N 70.7185°W |
South River | Massachusetts Bay | |
| Chandler Pond Dam[2] | Marshfield 42.0926°N 70.7229°W | |||
| Temple Street Dam[2] | Duxbury 42.0794°N 70.7457°W |
