What Can We Learn From the Removal of Little Dinky Dams?

Abstract

The topic of ‘dam removal’ has garnered national attention and been the focus of special sessions at numerous national scientific meetings; yet there remains a disparity between the need to understand and predict the effects of removing dams and the current state of the science. It has thus been argued that the removal of small dams should really be viewed as research opportunities. But why? And more importantly, how? While much has been written on dam removal, the majority of scientific literature published to date is based on anecdotal evidence and/or focused on broad contextual issues surrounding large dams. According to the 2002 Heinz Center report on Dam Removal; however, the vast majority of dams in this country, and almost all dams removed thus far, are small. Given the subtlety of their effects and the wide range of geomorphic contexts in which small dams are found, a consistent set of monitoring protocols are required if we are to develop a comprehensive understanding of dam removal effects. In this way, an empirical set of case lore can be built with which to test more rigorous dam removal models. Using insights gained from the removal of two small dam removals in Oregon; we offer the beginning of a national small dam removal monitoring protocol.