List of dam removals in Massachusetts

The 2014 removal of the International Paper Co. Dam No. 2 from the Fall River on the border of Greenfield and Gill.

This is a list of dams in Massachusetts that have been removed as physical impediments to free-flowing rivers or streams.

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 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]

Completed removals

Dam [7]	Height	Year removed	Location	Watercourse	Watershed
Moody St. Feeder Dam	12 ft (3.7 m)
May Brook Dam [8]	5 to 6 ft (1.5 to 1.8 m) [9]	2009	Windsor	May Brook
Robbins Dike Dam	5.5 ft (1.7 m)	2006	Plymouth 41°45′59″N70°38′06″W / 41.7665°N 70.6351°W / 41.7665; -70.6351 (Robbins Dike Dam)	Red Brook	Buttermilk Bay
New Way Dam	2 ft (0.61 m)	2008	Wareham 41°45′57″N70°38′05″W / 41.7659°N 70.6346°W / 41.7659; -70.6346 (New Way Dam)
Lower Flume Dam		2009	Wareham 41°45′55″N70°38′03″W / 41.7653°N 70.6341°W / 41.7653; -70.6341 (Lower Flume Dam)
Upper Flume Dam		2009	Wareham 41°45′55″N70°38′03″W / 41.7653°N 70.6342°W / 41.7653; -70.6342 (Upper Flume Dam)
Beaver Dam Brook Dam	12 ft (3.7 m)	2016	Plymouth 41°54′05″N70°34′16″W / 41.9013°N 70.5712°W / 41.9013; -70.5712 (Beaver Dam Brook Dam)	Beaver Dam Brook	Cape Cod Bay
West Beaver Dam Brook - Lower Berm	5 ft (1.5 m)	2020	Plymouth 41°54′59″N70°34′12″W / 41.9163°N 70.5699°W / 41.9163; -70.5699 (West Beaver Dam Brook - Lower Berm)	West Beaver Dam Brook
West Beaver Dam Brook - Upper Berm	3 ft (0.91 m)	2020	Plymouth 41°54′55″N70°34′16″W / 41.9153°N 70.5711°W / 41.9153; -70.5711 (West Beaver Dam Brook - Upper Berm)
Sandwich Game Farm Dam		2006	East Sandwich 41°43′52″N70°25′38″W / 41.7311°N 70.4273°W / 41.7311; -70.4273 (Sandwich Game Farm Dam)	Mill Creek
Curtis Pond Dam		2012	Middleton 42°37′06″N71°00′14″W / 42.6183°N 71.0039°W / 42.6183; -71.0039 (Curtis Pond Dam)	Boston Brook	Charles River
Lower Dam	8 ft (2.4 m)	2009	Rowley 42°44′24″N70°53′17″W / 42.74°N 70.8881°W / 42.74; -70.8881 (Lower Dam)	Ox Pasture Brook
Traphole Brook Dam	8 ft (2.4 m)	2022	Norwood 42°09′38″N71°11′39″W / 42.1606°N 71.1942°W / 42.1606; -71.1942 (Traphole Brook Dam)	Traphole Brook
Charles River Mill Dam (Pearl Street Mill Dam)	13.5 ft (4.1 m)	2017	Bellingham 42°07′51″N71°26′41″W / 42.1307°N 71.4447°W / 42.1307; -71.4447 (Charles River Mill Dam (Pearl Street Mill Dam))	Charles River
Upper Cook's Canyon Dam	9.5 ft (2.9 m)	2006	Barre 42°24′52″N72°06′24″W / 42.4145°N 72.1066°W / 42.4145; -72.1066 (Upper Cook's Canyon Dam)	Galloway Brook	Chicopee River
Falmouth Rod & Gun Club Dam	10 ft (3.0 m)	2021	Falmouth 41°35′36″N70°31′30″W / 41.5933°N 70.5249°W / 41.5933; -70.5249 (Falmouth Rod & Gun Club Dam)	Childs River	Childs River
Coonamessett Lower Bog Dam		2017	Falmouth 41°34′55″N70°34′24″W / 41.5819°N 70.5734°W / 41.5819; -70.5734 (Coonamessett Lower Bog Dam)	Coonamessett River	Coonamessett River
Coonamessett River Lower Dam	6 ft (1.8 m)	2018	Falmouth 41°35′07″N70°34′21″W / 41.5853°N 70.5726°W / 41.5853; -70.5726 (Coonamessett River Lower Dam)
Middle Bog Dam	6 ft (1.8 m)	2020	Falmouth 41°35′07″N70°34′21″W / 41.5853°N 70.5726°W / 41.5853; -70.5726 (Middle Bog Dam)
International Paper Co. Dam No. 2	10 ft (3.0 m)	2014	Greenfield and Gill 42°37′32″N72°32′56″W / 42.6255°N 72.5488°W / 42.6255; -72.5488 (International Paper Co. Dam No. 2)	Fall River	Fall River
Bartlett Rod Shop Co. Dam	20 ft (6.1 m)	2012	Pelham 42°22′44″N72°28′20″W / 42.379°N 72.4722°W / 42.379; -72.4722 (Bartlett Rod Shop Co. Dam)	Amethyst Brook	Fort River
Timber Dam	5 ft (1.5 m)	2016	Pelham 42°22′46″N72°28′16″W / 42.3794°N 72.471°W / 42.3794; -72.471 (Timber Dam)
Hall Brook Dam		2009	Adams 42°37′27″N73°07′27″W / 42.6243°N 73.1241°W / 42.6243; -73.1241 (Hall Brook Dam)	Hoxie Brook	Hoosic River
Briggsville Dam	15 ft (4.6 m)	2010	Clarksburg 42°42′53″N73°04′59″W / 42.7147°N 73.083°W / 42.7147; -73.083 (Briggsville Dam)	North Branch Hoosic River
Thunder Brook Restoration Project	15 ft (4.6 m)	2012	Cheshire 42°33′54″N73°10′36″W / 42.5649°N 73.1768°W / 42.5649; -73.1768 (Thunder Brook Restoration Project)	Thunder Brook
Lower Hathaway Brook Dam		2010	Dalton 42°25′17″N73°11′10″W / 42.4215°N 73.186°W / 42.4215; -73.186 (Lower Hathaway Brook Dam)	Hathaway Brook	Housatonic River
Upper Hathaway Brook Dam		2010	Dalton 42°25′13″N73°11′07″W / 42.4204°N 73.1854°W / 42.4204; -73.1854 (Upper Hathaway Brook Dam)
Old Berkshire Mill Dam		2000	Dalton 42°28′14″N73°10′09″W / 42.4706°N 73.1691°W / 42.4706; -73.1691 (Old Berkshire Mill Dam)	Housatonic River
Gravesleigh Pond Dam	6 ft (1.8 m)	2013	Pittsfield 42°25′46″N73°14′11″W / 42.4295°N 73.2365°W / 42.4295; -73.2365 (Gravesleigh Pond Dam)	Sackett Brook
Tel-Electric Dam [1]	22 ft (6.7 m)	2020	Pittsfield 42°26′50″N73°15′50″W / 42.4471°N 73.2638°W / 42.4471; -73.2638 (Tel-Electric Dam)	West Branch Housatonic River
Lyman Pond Dam	12 ft (3.7 m)	2022	Southampton 42°13′03″N72°43′49″W / 42.2174°N 72.7303°W / 42.2174; -72.7303 (Lyman Pond Dam)	Manhan River	Manhan River
Mordecai Lincoln Road Pond Dam (Hunters Pond Dam)	11 ft (3.4 m)	2017	Scituate 42°13′23″N70°47′19″W / 42.2231°N 70.7887°W / 42.2231; -70.7887 (Mordecai Lincoln Road Pond Dam (Hunters Pond Dam))	Bound Brook	Massachusetts Bay
Balmoral Dam	6 ft (1.8 m)	2017	Andover 42°40′21″N71°08′58″W / 42.6724°N 71.1494°W / 42.6724; -71.1494 (Balmoral Dam)	Shawsheen River	Merrimack River
Marland Place Dam (Stevens Street Dam)	12 ft (3.7 m)	2017	Andover 42°39′44″N71°08′48″W / 42.6623°N 71.1468°W / 42.6623; -71.1468 (Marland Place Dam (Stevens Street Dam))
Roberts Meadow Upper Reservoir Dam [10]	30 ft (9.1 m)	2018	Northampton 42°20′17″N72°43′40″W / 42.338°N 72.7279°W / 42.338; -72.7279 (Roberts Meadow Upper Reservoir Dam)	Roberts Meadow Brook	Mill River
Phillipston Reservoir Dam #1	15 ft (4.6 m)	2012	Phillipston 42°34′44″N72°10′31″W / 42.5789°N 72.1752°W / 42.5789; -72.1752 (Phillipston Reservoir Dam #1)	Thousand Acre Brook	Millers River
Phillipston Reservoir Dam #2	8 ft (2.4 m)	2012	Phillipston 42°34′42″N72°10′25″W / 42.5784°N 72.1735°W / 42.5784; -72.1735 (Phillipston Reservoir Dam #2)
Whites Mill Pond Dam [11] [12]		2023	Winchendon 42°41′38″N72°00′44″W / 42.6940°N 72.0121°W / 42.6940; -72.0121 (Whites Mill Pond Dam)	Tributary to North Branch Millers River
Carding Mill Dam	8 ft (2.4 m)	2014	Harwich 41°40′15″N70°03′43″W / 41.6709°N 70.062°W / 41.6709; -70.062 (Carding Mill Dam)	Cold River	Nantucket Sound
Gulf Brook Dam	10 ft (3.0 m)	2021	Pepperell 42°41′57″N71°38′07″W / 42.6991°N 71.6352°W / 42.6991; -71.6352 (Gulf Brook Dam)	Gulf Brook	Nashua River
Millie Turner Dam	10 ft (3.0 m)	2015	Pepperell 42°40′29″N71°34′54″W / 42.6748°N 71.5818°W / 42.6748; -71.5818 (Millie Turner Dam)	Nissitissit River
Sucker Brook Dam	7 ft (2.1 m)	2021	Pepperell 42°41′02″N71°36′35″W / 42.6839°N 71.6096°W / 42.6839; -71.6096 (Sucker Brook Dam)	Sucker Brook
Bartlett Pond Dam		2014	Lancaster 42°29′18″N71°42′51″W / 42.4883°N 71.7141°W / 42.4883; -71.7141 (Bartlett Pond Dam)	Wekepeke Brook
Mill Pond Dam	5 to 9 ft (1.5 to 2.7 m)	2014	Hanover 42°08′23″N70°50′08″W / 42.1397°N 70.8355°W / 42.1397; -70.8355 (Mill Pond Dam)	Third Herring Brook	North River
Tack Factory Dam	10 ft (3.0 m)	2016	Hanover 42°07′22″N70°54′30″W / 42.1227°N 70.9082°W / 42.1227; -70.9082 (Tack Factory Dam)
Unnamed Low Head Dams	3 ft (0.91 m)	2022	Hanover 42°08′48″N70°50′20″W / 42.1466°N 70.8388°W / 42.1466; -70.8388 (Unnamed Low Head Dams)
Peterson Pond Dam	10 ft (3.0 m)	2020	Hanover and Norwell 42°08′37″N70°50′15″W / 42.1437°N 70.8376°W / 42.1437; -70.8376 (Peterson Pond Dam)
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°54′41″N70°38′27″W / 41.9113°N 70.6408°W / 41.9113; -70.6408 (Sawmill Pond Dam)
Wapping Road Dam	6.6 ft (2.0 m)	2011	Kingston 41°59′34″N70°44′54″W / 41.9929°N 70.7484°W / 41.9929; -70.7484 (Wapping Road Dam)	Jones River
Elm Street Dam	9 ft (2.7 m)	2019	Kingston 41°59′N70°44′W / 41.99°N 70.73°W / 41.99; -70.73 (Elm Street Dam)
Billington Street Dam		2002	Plymouth 41°57′03″N70°40′23″W / 41.9508°N 70.6731°W / 41.9508; -70.6731 (Billington Street Dam)	Town Brook
Off Billington Street Dam	8.4 ft (2.6 m)	2013	Plymouth 41°56′56″N70°40′27″W / 41.949°N 70.6741°W / 41.949; -70.6741 (Off Billington Street Dam)
Plymco Dam	16 ft (4.9 m)	2015	Plymouth 41°56′47″N70°40′26″W / 41.9465°N 70.6739°W / 41.9465; -70.6739 (Plymco Dam)
Holmes Dam	19 ft (5.8 m)	2018	Plymouth 41°57′09″N70°40′07″W / 41.9525°N 70.6687°W / 41.9525; -70.6687 (Holmes Dam)
Wellingsly Dam #1	3 to 5 ft (0.91 to 1.52 m)	2012	Plymouth 41°56′56″N70°39′12″W / 41.949°N 70.6534°W / 41.949; -70.6534 (Wellingsly Dam #1)	Wellingsly Brook
Wellingsly Dam #2	3 to 5 ft (0.91 to 1.52 m)	2012	Plymouth 41°56′56″N70°39′12″W / 41.949°N 70.6534°W / 41.949; -70.6534 (Wellingsly Dam #2)
Wellingsly Dam #3	3 to 5 ft (0.91 to 1.52 m)	2012	Plymouth 41°56′56″N70°39′12″W / 41.949°N 70.6534°W / 41.949; -70.6534 (Wellingsly Dam #3)
Hamant Brook Lower Pond Dam	10 ft (3.0 m)	2017	Old Sturbridge Village Sturbridge 42°05′52″N72°05′30″W / 42.0977°N 72.0918°W / 42.0977; -72.0918 (Hamant Brook Lower Pond Dam)	Hamant Brook	Quinebaug River
Hamant Brook Middle Pond Dam	13 ft (4.0 m)	2017	Sturbridge 42°05′42″N72°05′41″W / 42.095°N 72.0946°W / 42.095; -72.0946 (Hamant Brook Middle Pond Dam)
Hamant Brook Upper Pond Dam	11 ft (3.4 m)	2017	Sturbridge 42°05′34″N72°05′44″W / 42.0928°N 72.0955°W / 42.0928; -72.0955 (Hamant Brook Upper Pond Dam)
Dudleyville Pond Dam (Brown's Dam) [6]		2024	Shutesbury 42°29′06″N72°26′40″W / 42.4850°N 72.4444°W / 42.4850; -72.4444 (Dudleyville Pond Dam)	Sawmill River	Sawmill River
Forge Pond Dam		2010	Freetown 41°48′10″N71°03′08″W / 41.8028°N 71.0523°W / 41.8028; -71.0523 (Forge Pond Dam)	Assonet River	Taunton River
Bleachery Dam (Rattlesnake Brook Dam)	7 ft (2.1 m)	2016	Freetown 41°46′52″N71°05′11″W / 41.7811°N 71.0864°W / 41.7811; -71.0864 (Bleachery Dam (Rattlesnake Brook Dam))
West Street Dam	12 ft (3.7 m)	2022	Foxborough 42°02′18″N71°16′30″W / 42.0384°N 71.275°W / 42.0384; -71.275 (West Street Dam)	Cocasset River
Barstowe's Pond Dam	8.5 ft (2.6 m)	2018	Taunton 41°52′56″N71°02′55″W / 41.8823°N 71.0485°W / 41.8823; -71.0485 (Barstowe's Pond Dam)	Cotley River
Hopewell Mills Dam	8 ft (2.4 m)	2012	Taunton 41°54′53″N71°05′49″W / 41.9147°N 71.0969°W / 41.9147; -71.0969 (Hopewell Mills Dam)	Mill River
Whittenton Dam	8 ft (2.4 m)	2013	Taunton 41°55′27″N71°06′23″W / 41.9243°N 71.1063°W / 41.9243; -71.1063 (Whittenton Dam)
West Britannia Dam	8 ft (2.4 m)	2018	Taunton 41°55′08″N71°06′05″W / 41.919°N 71.1015°W / 41.919; -71.1015 (West Britannia Dam)
Carver Cotton Gin Pond Dam	15 ft (4.6 m)	2017	East Bridgewater 42°01′17″N70°57′04″W / 42.0214°N 70.951°W / 42.0214; -70.951 (Carver Cotton Gin Pond Dam)	Satucket River
High Street Dam	12.5 ft (3.8 m)	2023	Bridgewater 42°00′09″N70°58′56″W / 42.0025°N 70.9822°W / 42.0025; -70.9822 (High Street Dam)	Town River
Kinne Brook Dam (Stroud Dam)	6 ft (1.8 m)	2014	Chester 42°18′31″N72°54′28″W / 42.3085°N 72.9078°W / 42.3085; -72.9078 (Kinne Brook Dam)	Kinne Brook	Westfield River
Winchell Dam	14.5 ft (4.4 m)	2016	Granville 42°05′02″N72°50′32″W / 42.0838°N 72.8421°W / 42.0838; -72.8421 (Winchell Dam)	Westfield River
Silk Mill Dam	15 ft (4.6 m)	2003	Becket 42°19′42″N73°05′01″W / 42.3283°N 73.0836°W / 42.3283; -73.0836 (Silk Mill Dam)	Yokum Brook
Ballou Dam	10 ft (3.0 m)	2006	Becket 42°19′55″N73°05′00″W / 42.3319°N 73.0834°W / 42.3319; -73.0834 (Ballou Dam)
Horseshoe Pond Dam	6 ft (1.8 m)	2020	Wareham 41°45′55″N70°44′51″W / 41.7653°N 70.7476°W / 41.7653; -70.7476 (Horseshoe Pond Dam)	Weweantic River	Weweantic River
Lyman Pond Dam No. 2		2024	Waltham	Chester Brook
Quinapoxet Accretion Dam		2024	West Boylston	Quinapoxet River

Planned and proposed removals

Dam	Expected year	Location	Watercourse	Watershed
Talbot Mills Dam [13]		Billerica 42°35′30″N71°17′02″W / 42.5918°N 71.2840°W / 42.5918; -71.2840 (Talbot Mills Dam)	Concord River	Merrimack River
Veterans Memorial Park Dam [2]		Marshfield 42°05′41″N70°43′07″W / 42.0948°N 70.7185°W / 42.0948; -70.7185 (Veterans Memorial Park Dam)	South River	Massachusetts Bay
Chandler Pond Dam [2]		Marshfield 42°05′33″N70°43′22″W / 42.0926°N 70.7229°W / 42.0926; -70.7229 (Chandler Pond Dam)
Temple Street Dam [2]		Duxbury 42°04′46″N70°44′45″W / 42.0794°N 70.7457°W / 42.0794; -70.7457 (Temple Street Dam)

References

1. Munroe-Hultman, Lauri (January 10, 2023). "Former company town turns the page with dam removal". FWS.gov. United States Fish and Wildlife Service . Retrieved September 22, 2023.
2. "South River Restoration". North and South Rivers Watershed Association. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
3. Rehkopf, Anna (July 18, 2023). "High Street Dam Removal". fws.gov. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service . Retrieved September 26, 2023.
4. "Kinne Brook Dam removed". The Westfield News. October 12, 2014. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
5. "Kinne Brook Restoration Project". tu.org. Trout Unlimited. Archived from the original on April 23, 2016. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
6. "Division of Ecological Restoration Announces Successful Emergency Removal of Dam in Shutesbury". Mass.gov. Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration. September 5, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
7. "American Rivers Dam Removal Database". Figshare . American Rivers. February 13, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
8. "Annual Report 2010". Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. p. 67. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
9. "Infrastructure Mobilization Effort - Unreviewed List of Projects Submitted for State Consideration". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 277. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
10. "Dam Removal Underway at Upper Roberts Brook (Northampton)". Mass.gov. Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration. July 17, 2018. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
11. Arthen, Inanna (September 7, 2023). "Whites Mills Property Placed on the Market, Asking Price $3.5 Million". The Winchendon Courier. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
12. "Whites Mill Pond Dam Decommissioning and River Restoration". www.gza.com. GZA GeoEnvironmental. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
13. "Talbot Mills Dam Removal on the Concord River". FWS.gov. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service . Retrieved September 22, 2023.

External links

• Media related to Removed dams in Massachusetts at Wikimedia Commons