This past year was a busy one at the Rockefeller Dam and the former site of Peggy’s Pond. In 2023, we announced that we had received grant funds from the Clean Water Initiative Program (CWIP) for site restoration, permitting, removal, and restoration. 2024 brought a transition from the planning and design phases of the project to the on the ground removal and restoration.
The Rockefeller Dam was built in the 1970s during the Conservation Pond Era. In the 1980s, human-made dams came under increased scrutiny with periodic inspections by government regulatory bodies. Through these inspections the dam and associated pond were found to be at risk of failure and posed a serious flood risk downstream. In 2016, FWC began the long-term removal process that required a wide array of permits, surveys, and site visits.
At long last, the dam was removed in August 2024 by a team of local contractors. Crews breached the embankment and carefully reconnected the stream that flows toward Woodward Reservoir. Metal pipes and supporting infrastructure were removed and the earthen materials from which the dam was built was distributed throughout the site and carefully placed in the emergency spillway.
In October 2024 we hosted an event in collaboration with Ron Rhodes of Connecticut River Conservancy and Karina Dailey of Vermont Natural Resources Council. We had a great turnout and participants learned about the ecological and economic benefits of removing old remote dams that are no longer serving their intended purpose.
In November, locally sourced native seed from Vermont Wetlands Supply was scattered on the bare earth and 550 native trees and shrubs were planted at the newly restored site with the help of F&W staff and local volunteers. Additional plantings will take place in the Spring of 2025. We are so thrilled to see this project nearing completion and look forward to monitoring the site and its transformation in the years to come.
Farm & Wilderness Conservation was fortunate to have our dam removal and restoration project featured in the Mountain Times! Please follow this link to view the article!