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 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]

Ware River

The Wheelwright Pond Dam removal over the Ware River in Wheelwright (Hardwick) and New Braintree occurred in 2025 to 2026. The total project cost is estimated at $4 million, mostly with State and Federal dollars. It was a collaboration between the East Quabbin Land Trust and the dam's private owner, Raitto Engineering & Manufacturing Co. This project reconnected 130 miles of high-quality freshwater habitat in the Ware River Watershed, the most continuous stream miles in Massachusetts. The dam was built in the 1800s or early 1900s, and it's poor condition prompted Massachusetts to upgrade the status of the dam to a high-hazard level to public safety. It was the largest dam removal in Massachusetts.[7] The dam removal project was made possible by East Quabbin Land Trust's purchase of the former Tanner–Hiller Airport, which is in the process of being converted into the Menameset Habitat and the Mass Central Rail Trail.[8]

Completed removals

Dam[9]HeightYear removedLocationWatercourseWatershed
Moody St. Feeder Dam 12 ft (3.7 m)
May Brook Dam[10] 5 to 6 ft (1.5 to 1.8 m)[11] 2009 Windsor May Brook
Robbins Dike Dam 5.5 ft (1.7 m) 2006 Plymouth
41°45′59″N 70°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″N 70°38′05″W / 41.7659°N 70.6346°W / 41.7659; -70.6346 (New Way Dam)
Lower Flume Dam 2009 Wareham
41°45′55″N 70°38′03″W / 41.7653°N 70.6341°W / 41.7653; -70.6341 (Lower Flume Dam)
Upper Flume Dam 2009 Wareham
41°45′55″N 70°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″N 70°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″N 70°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″N 70°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″N 70°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″N 71°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″N 70°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″N 71°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″N 71°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″N 72°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″N 70°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″N 70°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″N 70°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″N 70°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″N 72°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″N 72°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″N 72°28′16″W / 42.3794°N 72.471°W / 42.3794; -72.471 (Timber Dam)
Hall Brook Dam 2009 Adams
42°37′27″N 73°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″N 73°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″N 73°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″N 73°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″N 73°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″N 73°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″N 73°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″N 73°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″N 72°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″N 70°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″N 71°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″N 71°08′48″W / 42.6623°N 71.1468°W / 42.6623; -71.1468 (Marland Place Dam (Stevens Street Dam))
Roberts Meadow Upper Reservoir Dam[12] 30 ft (9.1 m) 2018 Northampton
42°20′17″N 72°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″N 72°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″N 72°10′25″W / 42.5784°N 72.1735°W / 42.5784; -72.1735 (Phillipston Reservoir Dam #2)
Whites Mill Pond Dam[13][14] 2023 Winchendon
42°41′38″N 72°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″N 70°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″N 71°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″N 71°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″N 71°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″N 71°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″N 70°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″N 70°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″N 70°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″N 70°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″N 70°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″N 70°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′N 70°44′W / 41.99°N 70.73°W / 41.99; -70.73 (Elm Street Dam)
Billington Street Dam 2002 Plymouth
41°57′03″N 70°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″N 70°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″N 70°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″N 70°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″N 70°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″N 70°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″N 70°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″N 72°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″N 72°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″N 72°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″N 72°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″N 71°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″N 71°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″N 71°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″N 71°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″N 71°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″N 71°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″N 71°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″N 70°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″N 70°58′56″W / 42.0025°N 70.9822°W / 42.0025; -70.9822 (High Street Dam)		 Town River
Wheelwright Pond Dam[7] 12 ft (3.7 m) 2026 New Braintree

42°21′09″N 72°08′13″W / 42.3524°N 72.1369°W / 42.3524; -72.1369 (Wheelwright Pond Dam)

 Ware River Ware River
Kinne Brook Dam (Stroud Dam) 6 ft (1.8 m) 2014 Chester
42°18′31″N 72°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″N 72°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″N 73°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″N 73°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″N 70°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
Becker Pond Dam 2025 Mt. Washington

Planned and proposed removals

DamExpected yearLocationWatercourseWatershed
Talbot Mills Dam[15] Billerica
42°35′30″N 71°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″N 70°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″N 70°43′22″W / 42.0926°N 70.7229°W / 42.0926; -70.7229 (Chandler Pond Dam)
Temple Street Dam[2] Duxbury
42°04′46″N 70°44′45″W / 42.0794°N 70.7457°W / 42.0794; -70.7457 (Temple Street Dam)

References

  1. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 4 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 Schwan, Henry (March 18, 2026). "Massive dam coming down in Central Mass. It could prevent catastrophe". Telegram & Gazette. Archived from the original on April 7, 2026. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Six Land Conservation Projects Complete Thanks to Catalyst Fund". Mass Audubon. September 5, 2025. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  9. ↑ "American Rivers Dam Removal Database". Figshare. American Rivers. February 13, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Annual Report 2010". Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. p. 67. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Infrastructure Mobilization Effort - Unreviewed List of Projects Submitted for State Consideration". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 277. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Dam Removal Underway at Upper Roberts Brook (Northampton)". Mass.gov. Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration. July 17, 2018. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  13. ↑ Arthen, Inanna (September 7, 2023). "Whites Mills Property Placed on the Market, Asking Price $3.5 Million". The Winchendon Courier. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Whites Mill Pond Dam Decommissioning and River Restoration". www.gza.com. GZA GeoEnvironmental. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Talbot Mills Dam Removal on the Concord River". FWS.gov. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
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