Rep. Kean Jr. and Local Elected Officials Tour Dam Removal Projects in Warren County

On August 9, 2023, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) led a delegation of elected officials on a tour of dam removal projects on the Pequest River in Belvidere, New Jersey. Tour attendees, who viewed the Upper and Lower E. R. Collins Dams, both slated to be removed in 2025, included Congressman Tom Kean, Jr, Warren County Commissioner James Kern, Belvidere Mayor Kathleen Miers, Blairstown Mayor Rob Moorhead, and Belvidere Councilwoman Tammy Koop.

TNC was recently awarded $1 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s USFWS National Fish Passage Program for construction of the dam removal projects – among the first federal infrastructure dollars to reach New Jersey for restoration work. Project funding comes from a variety of sources, including the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund, which is funded by the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Natural Resource Restoration.

“It was important to see first-hand the great work that The Nature Conservancy and its partners are doing to restore our rivers and remove antiquated dams,” said Rep. Tom Kean, Jr. “That’s why I’m proud to co-sponsor the Delaware River Basin Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2023, which will continue to provide funding for these kinds of vital restoration projects.”

The removal of dams in the Pequest watershed builds upon TNC’s prior successes in removing antiquated dams in New Jersey. In 2018, TNC completed the removal of the Columbia Dam, opening nearly 21 miles of habitat for migratory fish in the Paulins Kill, an important tributary to the Delaware River. With the planned removal of the Paulina Dam in 2024 combined with the removal of the County Line Dam in 2022, TNC will have reconnected 45 miles of river habitat in the Paulins Kill.

“These projects are imperative for not only improving the ecological health of our valuable watersheds, but in this case will also help reduce local flooding,” said Barbara Brummer, State Director for the New Jersey Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. “This is where the rubber hits the road for policy and we are thrilled to have government partners at all levels who share our vision and value our work.”

TNC in New Jersey also leads the New Jersey Statewide Dam Removal Partnership (SDRP), a collaboration of nonprofits and government agencies that seeks to advance the removal of antiquated, dangerous or ecologically detrimental dams. Its members meet quarterly to discuss beneficial dam removal projects and to exchange information regarding policy, regulatory issues, funding and the practical considerations of dam removal. The SDRP also provides information to the public about how dams and dam removal may affect their communities and their lives.

About The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy, a global 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has been committed to protecting the lands and waters on which all life depends for more than 60 years in New Jersey. Using science and an equity lens to guide our focus and execution, we are tackling the dual threats of biodiversity loss and climate change, maximizing resilience and benefits for nature and people.