The privately owned East Putney Brook Dam, located 6.5 miles upstream from the confluence with the Connecticut River in Putney, VT, no longer serves any useful purpose and has negative impacts on its environment. It blocks fish and other aquatic organism passage; traps sediment above the dam resulting in shallow, warm water and reduced habitat; degrades water quality; and increases flood risk.

The Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) is working with the owner remove the dam in order to restore fish passage and sediment transport, and to improve water quality in East Putney Brook. The removal project will include concrete and sediment removal (roughly 7,000 cubic yards), restoring the river channel, and installing in-stream and riparian habitat features (trees).  Volunteers will help with the post-removal restoration by planting native trees and shrubs in fall 2019 and spring 2020.

CRC used a State Wildlife Grant from Vermont Fish & Wildlife to hire an engineering firm in 2017 in pursuance of removal in summer 2019 after obtaining all necessary permits. CRC has secured foundation funding as well as $137,000 from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to work toward removal/construction. The additional funding requested will allow CRC to hire a contractor to begin removal of the dam and restoration of the river.