Removal of the ER Collins Dams: Co-Benefits Include Fish Migration, Flood Reduction, Ecotourism and Public Safety
Beth Styler Barry
Director of Freshwater Programs
The Nature Conservancy, NJ
Chester, NJ
Geoffrey M. Goll, PE
President, Princeton Hydro
Trenton, NJ
Authors: Styler Barry, B., Goll, Geoffrey M., PE
The removal of the two E.R. Collins Dams is part of a larger restoration effort that will open 11 miles of mainstem of the Pequest River and reconnect approximately 50 miles of tributaries for migratory fish to use for spawning and foraging, improve water quality for resident fish and other aquatic species, enhance recreational opportunities for anglers and paddlers, and help mitigate flooding in downtown Belvidere, thereby enhancing community resilience to climate change impacts. Removal of the next two dams upstream, the No Name and Cedar Grove Dams, is already underway.
Located within 1,500 feet of the confluence of the Pequest and Delaware Rivers, the Lower E.R. Collins Dam (7-foot-high, 145-foot-long concrete-capped wood dam, owner: NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife) and Upper E. R. Collins Dam (7-foot-high, 85-foot-wide concrete-capped wood dam, owners: two private citizens) block fish migration, degrade instream habitat and contribute to flooding of homes and businesses in Belvidere, Warren County, NJ. Due to the close proximity of the two dams, conducting engineering, design, permitting and construction as one removal project provides multiple cost savings and minimizes disturbance to local residences and businesses. Removal of the E.R. Collins Dams will restore and reconnect habitat for diadromous fish species including American shad (Alosa sapidissima), American eel (Anguilla rostrata) and native sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus).
The presentation will show how benefits of this dam removal and river restoration project will flow to the nearby community, including multiple rental units and small businesses. The combined removals will make the community more resilient and yield socio-economic benefits, including removal of a public safety hazard, flood reduction, and increased opportunities for angling and paddling, which may boost regional tourism and revitalize the economy of this river-adjacent community.
About Beth Styler Barry
Beth Styler Barry, Director of Freshwater Programs at The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey has 20 years’ experience in river restoration, water quality monitoring, community outreach, and project management. At The Nature Conservancy, Beth leads development and implementation of major on-the-ground stream restoration projects, including dam removals, from permit application to working with engineers, contractors, and partners for successful project completion. Beth leads the NJ Statewide Dam Removal Partnership. Beth previously worked as executive director of the Musconetcong Watershed Association. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry from Rutgers University and a Master’s Degree in Environmental Management from Montclair State University.
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Geoffrey M. Goll, PE