Alongside with the movement to take advantage of non-powered dams and resurrect existing infrastructure, there is also a petition to remove all "dead beat" dams. Many dams built in the mid 20th century did not prioritize river health and have since forever changed the ecosystem in an unnatural way. Removing the concrete and allowing the river to run free again would eventually restore stream health. The fish would come back in great numbers, natural sediment and nutrients would return to healthy levels, and minimum stream flow levels would no longer be a major concern. Removing dams is considered the best option when, as American Rivers puts it, " the costs- including environmental, safety and socio-culture impacts- outweigh the benefits- including hydropower."
The process of removing a dam is typically slow to avoid further environmental damage. The river can be entirely diverted, or it can be removed in stages to keep the ecosystem healthy. The cost of removal depends on the size and location of the dam. According to American Rivers, in the past 100 years there have been 1,150 dams removed in the United States.
Follow this link for more information about dam removal in the United States:
http://www.americanrivers.org/initiatives/dams/hydropower/
The process of removing a dam is typically slow to avoid further environmental damage. The river can be entirely diverted, or it can be removed in stages to keep the ecosystem healthy. The cost of removal depends on the size and location of the dam. According to American Rivers, in the past 100 years there have been 1,150 dams removed in the United States.
Follow this link for more information about dam removal in the United States:
http://www.americanrivers.org/initiatives/dams/hydropower/