Free Rivers, Climate Change Resilience: Demand Dam Removal

As climate change drives increasingly destructive floods, droughts, and storms, communities across the United States are confronting a dangerous and growing threat: aging, outdated dams.

Our country’s rivers are facing obstructions of our design that are now threatening our safety. 

There are over 550,000 dams and over 298,000 barriers like culverts crossing our country’s rivers, many of them over 50 years old. Nearly 17,000 of these dams are deemed high risk to people downstream.

These structures, once thought to control water, are now becoming liabilities. They block rivers, increase flood risks during extreme weather conditions, and pose a threat to public safety when they fail. As recent events have shown, failing dams can unleash catastrophic flooding, putting thousands of lives and homes at risk.

A new paper from Utah State University finds that removing obsolete dams and barriers can help communities nationwide become more resilient in the face of extreme weather.  

Free-flowing rivers reduce flood hazards by allowing water to spread naturally, recharge groundwater, and provide critical buffers during both droughts and periods of heavy rainfall. Communities that have removed dams are already seeing improved safety and reduced disaster costs.

Dam removal also restores vital habitat for fish and wildlife. Iconic species like salmon and steelhead rely on access to upstream spawning grounds, but dams have significantly impacted their populations. Removing barriers reconnects entire river systems, supporting biodiversity, clean water, and healthier ecosystems that, in turn, sustain local economies and cultural traditions.

Congress has a historic opportunity to act. By directing federal funding toward dam removal and river restoration, lawmakers can help communities adapt to climate change, avoid costly disasters, and revive rivers that have been blocked for generations.

Sign the petition to support dam removal across the U.S. and urge Congress to:

Prioritize funding for dam removal projects that improve public safety and climate resilience.

Invest in river restoration to support wildlife, such as salmon and steelhead.

Support communities in building safer, healthier, and more sustainable futures.

It’s time to rethink outdated infrastructure and embrace solutions that work with nature, not against it. Removing obsolete dams is a win for people, wildlife, and the planet. Please sign the petition to support dam removal and help communities thrive in the face of climate change.

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Source

American Rivers https://www.americanrivers.org/dam-removal-and-extreme-weather/