Dam Busters 101

This presentation introduces you to the Dam Busters webinar series, the dam removal process, and the role of the dam removal manager. We give a general overview of planning for dam removal, project scoping, dam removal engineering and design, working with groups of stakeholders, troubleshooting for issues like sediment and impoundments, cost assessment and feasibility, permitting, fundraising, and the benefits of river and habitat restoration such as restoring connectivity, improving water quality.

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.

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.

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.

This webinar will cover common sediment-related tasks including: assessing quality and quantity, identifying contaminants, downstream implications, and developing sediment management plans.

Explore financing options by learning about potential federal, state, local, and even private funding sources.

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.

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.

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.

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.