Dam Removal In New Jersey

Wednesday, January 28, 2026
7:00pm
Via Zoom Webinar

There are over 1,700 dams in New Jersey that are regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Dam Safety, about one third of those dams are owned by towns or counties. Some of those dams are still performing the function for which they were built, many others are obsolete.

This webinar, presented by The New Jersey Statewide Dam Removal Partnership (SDRP) and ANJEC will explore dam removal in NJ and include case studies. The SDRP, a coalition of state and federal agencies and nonprofit partners, works with willing dam owners to address dams that are obsolete, unsafe, or harmful to local waterways. 
There will be ample time for questions.

Removing a dam: 

• eliminates long-term inspection and maintenance costs, 
• reduces public safety liability, 
• provides safer recreation for anglers, paddlers, and waders, 
• provides opportunities for new trails or recreation in the former impoundment,
• restores healthier waterways, 
• and has the potential to reduce nearby flooding*.
  *Engineering studies are needed to investigate this.

For those who are interested in exploring dam removal further there will be a spring workshop for municipal and county officials and engineers.  There will be additional training for local governments seriously investigating removal including a free two-day Project Manager Training. For some dams, the ecological benefit of removal is quite high and in those cases funding to complete removal may be available.