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Ipswich Mills Dam, Amanda Siow 2024
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Dam Busters 201
In Person Community Engagement for Dam Removal Workshop
See below for resources, links and presentations. Workshop originally held September 26, 2025.
This workshop included a panel of practitioners who have successfully conducted community engagement for dam removal and an interactive session to simulate the community engagement process led by Emily Vogler of the Rhode Island School of Design.
Panel Presentations
Brittany Ebeling, Executive Director
Berkshire Environmental Action Team
Download presentation slides here
Key Principles:
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Giving experts a platform
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Offer a venue for public input
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Honoring history and cultural ties
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Amplifying community concerns and
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ideas: dam removal as an opportunity for infrastructure choices
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Applaud reactivity to public input
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Work in partnership
Neil Shea, Restoration Program Director
Ipswich River Watershed Association
Download presentation slides here
Key Takeaways/Resources:
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How do we take dam removal projects which typically have years of research, data collection and analysis on topics like hydraulic and hydrologic modelling, sediment transport, sediment contamination, structural engineering – and distill it down to be digestible by the public?
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Visual tools like detailed renderings
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Using clear maps and figures to tell a story
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Having a tightly organized and edited FAQ document (example)
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Having difficult conversations at public meetings
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Strategies for people
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Understanding the sliding scale of "who cares?"
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Reflections from Ipswich Mills Dam Case Study:
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Be clear about decision making
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Be strategic about where you spend your time
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Be ready for curveballs
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People love wildlife
Lisa Kumpf, Senior River Restoration Program Manager
Charles River Watershed Association
Download presentation slides here
Key Takeaways/Resources:
Do you have any feedback on the workshop?
Fill out an evaluation here
Additional Resources
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