Factsheets
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![An informational graphic titled 'What Are Ghost Dams?' by Sea Grant New York. It features a photo of a snow-covered, leafless forest with fallen branches. The graphic explains that ghost dams are small, often forgotten dams not listed in official inventories, typically found in headwaters of streams on private land. It describes their purpose, inspection rarity, and potential hazards, emphasizing their impact on ecosystems and flood risks.]()
'Ghost Dams'
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![Diagram comparing beaver dams and human-made dams, showing aquatic organisms, sediment flow, and habitat impacts.]()
Beaver Dams
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![Illustration of a waterfall with a person fishing in the river, surrounded by lush green trees and rocks, with a diagram showing the habitat of native brook trout.]()
Waterfalls and Dams
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![An aerial view of an orange excavator removing a dam from a river, surrounded by green trees and water.]()
The Importance of Dam Removal
Videos
Peer Reviewed Papers
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![Screenshot of academic article titled 'Planning and implementing small dam removals: lessons learned from dam removals across the eastern United States' by Christina Tonitto and Susan J. Rika, published in Sustainability Water Resources. The article includes publication details, abstract, keywords, and the journal's logo.]()
Tonitto, C., & Riha, S. 2016. Planning and implementing small dam removals: lessons learned from dam removals across the eastern United States.
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![Map of Lattintown Creek with details of Known and Unmapped Dams, rivers, and watershed areas in New York.]()
Buchanan et al. 2022. A machine learning approach to identify barriers in stream networks demonstrates high prevalence of unmapped riverine dams.
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![Diagram showing relationships between non-market value, safety, procedural context, and economics in a water resource management system, with visual icons and arrows.]()
Lutter et al. 2024. Social considerations for the removal of dams and other aquatic barriers.
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![Map of the Moodna Creek watershed showing sub-basins, stream order, and barrier types with locations of dams and waterfalls, includes inset maps of New York City, Mohawk River, and Furnace Brook.]()
Zarri et al. 2025. Do tributary dams pose a greater conservation threat than main-stem dams for nonmigratory freshwater fishes?
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![Line graph showing BAP values from 2016 to 2019, with categories non, slight, moderate, and severe, indicating trends in upstream and downstream data, with the dam removed after 2016 and a threshold line at level 5 for biological impairment.]()
Dietrich et al. 2025. Aquatic habitat response to small dam removal demonstrates recovery in three years.
Research Reports
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![Top left: Person in outdoor gear examining a box near a creek. Top right: Three people wading in a shallow creek with tools, possibly for environmental work. Bottom left: Close-up of a hand holding a large black millipede.]()
Stich & Best, 2024. Measuring the biological productivity of Hudson River tributaries with respect to potential for restoration.
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![A small, calm creek with rocky banks surrounded by lush green trees and vegetation.]()
Dietrich, J. 2024. Ecological Monitoring Of Dam Removal Projects In The Hudson River Estuary Of New York State: Sprout Brook Dam
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![A warning sign near a river indicating danger, no swimming, no entry into water, and a strong current, with a small waterfall and leafless trees in the background.]()
Widrig, R. 2026. Review of Dam Safety Education, Extension, and Outreach Materials in New York.
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![Cover page of a report titled 'New York State of Dams' with a blue background and an image of a historic building, listing the authors and date April 2026.]()
Rabinow, L., Scott, M., & Ofori-Awuku, F. 2026. NY State of Dams Report.
