Dam Busters

Introduction to Dam Removal (https://www.massriversalliance.org/dam-busters-101/introduction-to-dam-removal) - Introducing you to the Dam Busters webinar series, the dam removal process, and the role of the dam removal manager. Scoping the Dam Removal Project and Managing Consultants (https://www.massriversalliance.org/dambusters101/scoping)- Learn about the importance of creating a proper scope of work and strong multidisciplinary team of consultants to help you manage the complexities of working in a riverine environment. Building a Dam Removal Project Team (https://www.massriversalliance.org/dam-busters-201/building-a-team)- From initial reconnaissance to post-project monitoring, learn how to assemble the right team of people to address project coordination, coordinating community engagement, shepherding the permitting process, working with consultants and experts, and other project management issues.

Funding a Dam Removal Project (https://www.massriversalliance.org/dam-busters-101/funding-dam-removal)(2023-24) - Explore financing options by learning about potential federal, state, local, and even private funding sources. Fundraising/Financing (https://www.massriversalliance.org/dam-busters-201/fundraising-financing)(2025) - Learn about various funding sources and offer insights on how to build a successful funding strategy.

Intro to Community Engagement (https://www.massriversalliance.org/dam-busters-101/community-engagement)- Learn about the best practices for working with stakeholders and gathering community support for dam removal from effective outreach, to involving stakeholders, to making compelling economic and public safety appeals. Community Engagement 101 (https://www.massriversalliance.org/dam-busters-201/community-engagement)- Learn the basics of community engagement and common sense strategies to help participants think beyond the public meeting and create a community engagement process that is appropriately sized for your project needs. How to Work with Your Local Conservation Commission (https://www.massriversalliance.org/dam-busters-201/working-with-local-conservation-commission)- Learn from the experience of one town that has done multiple dam removals about how their Con Comm managed conservation interests while navigating competing interests from community members. Community Engagement Workshop (https://www.massriversalliance.org/dam-busters-201/inperson-community-engagement-workshop)- 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. Peer-to-Peer Support for Community Engagement (https://www.massriversalliance.org/dam-busters-201/peer-to-peer-community-engagement)- Dam removal peers engaged on the successes and pitfalls of community engagement. Dam Atlas 2.0 (https://www.massriversalliance.org/dam-busters-2026/dam-atlas)- Learn about the resources available in the Dam Atlas 2.0 from Emily Vogler from the Rhode Island School of Design.

Assessing Local Impacts (Historic & Indigenous) (https://www.massriversalliance.org/dam-busters-101/assessing-local-impacts)- Dam removal projects often go through permitting processes to be in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act and other processes to protect historic and cultural resources. Learn more about the process of addressing local impacts of dam removal projects and working with local stakeholders. Indigenous Approaches to Dam Removal & River Restoration (https://www.massriversalliance.org/dambusters101/indigenous-approaches)- Dams are physical manifestations of the legacy of colonialism in our rivers. Indigenous peoples are important stakeholders in the dam removal process. Learn more about indigenous perspectives surrounding dam removal projects and river restoration in the U.S.

Overview of What Goes Into Engineering & Design (https://www.massriversalliance.org/dam-busters-101/engineering-and-design)- We’ll go over the many steps in the design process including preliminary designs, pre-removal assessments, removal of the dam itself, dam removal methods, and how to manage site and permit issues. Addressing Infrastructure (https://www.massriversalliance.org/dam-busters-101/assessing-infrastructure)- Dam removal projects in more urbanized settings often come with additional challenges of other infrastructure in the vicinity of the project area. Dam removal projects in these cases often also improve or address conditions for other nearby infrastructure such as bridges, culverts, pipelines. Top 10 Ways to Tell if Your River Reach is Insensitive to Disturbance (https://www.massriversalliance.org/dam-busters-201/river-reach)- Prof. Noah Snyder gave a series of field observations and GIS methods that practitioners can use to evaluate how a given river reach is likely to change in response to restoration projects. His examples are specifically geared to the formerly glaciated landscape of the northeastern U.S.

Managing Sediment (https://www.massriversalliance.org/dambusters101/managing-sediment)- Learn about managing common sediment-related tasks including: assessing quality and quantity, identifying contaminants, downstream implications, and developing sediment management plans. Dam Removal Effects on Stream Channels (https://www.massriversalliance.org/dam-busters-201/stream-channel)- Learn about the effects of dam removal on stream channels from Dr. John Field of Field Geology Services. Overview of New England Dam Removal Research (https://www.massriversalliance.org/dam-busters-201/dam-removal-research)- Join us for an overview of Boston College Prof. Noah Snyder's decades of research on dam removal in New England.

Permitting (https://www.massriversalliance.org/dam-busters-101/permitting)- Dam removal can require multiple permits from various agencies. Learn about these different permits, how to work with their respective regulatory agencies, and how to plan time to navigate permitting processes. Streamlining Permitting for Restoration (https://www.massriversalliance.org/dam-busters-201/streamlining-permitting)- The regulatory permitting system for working in rivers and wetlands is complex and was designed to limit development impacts. Efforts are now underway to streamline permitting for restoration while continuing to protect our invaluable natural resources. This presentation provided updates and perspectives on progress in the regulatory space and state initiatives that support restoration projects.

Restoring Aquatic Habitat Through Dam Removal: Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates (https://www.massriversalliance.org/dam-busters-2026/restoring-aquatic-habitat)(2026) - Learn about the effects of dam removal on restoring aquatic habitat (water quality and macroinvertebrates) from Dr. Allison Roy, Unit Leader with the U.S. Geological Survey's Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and Adjunct Research Professor in the Department of Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Dam Removal and Extreme Weather (https://www.massriversalliance.org/dam-busters-2026/extreme-weather)(2026) - Learn about dam removal as a climate resiliency strategy and research on dam removal and extreme weather from Dr. Sarah Null, Professor of Watershed Sciences at Utah State University.

National State of Dam Removal (https://www.massriversalliance.org/dam-busters-201/national-state-of-dam-removal)- Join us for a review of where the United States stands in removing dams across the country. Staff from American Rivers will share national statistics on dam removal projects as well as observations about progress towards AR's goal of removing 30,000 dams by 2050.