Synthesizing Fluvial Sedimentary and Geomorphic Response to Dam Removal—A Two-Decade Perspective

Over the last several decades there has been a marked increase in the number of dams removed in the United States, including the recent removal of large dams impounding millions of cubic meters of sediment. From these removals, common findings have begun to emerge: (1) Rivers are resilient, showing rapid geomorphic and sedimentary response to dam removals, especially when removals are sudden rather than prolonged, and where rivers have adequate stream power. Rivers can rapidly evacuate large percentages of stored reservoir sediment (≥40% within one year)—particularly where sediment is coarse-grained (sand and gravel), and can move evacuated sediment long distances (>20 km downstream) within a year, given sufficient transport capacity. The channel downstream typically takes months to years—not decades—to achieve a degree of stability within its natural range of variability. (2) Modest flows can erode large amounts of reservoir sediment and move it downstream. Large floods are not required to move substantial sediment volumes, especially from non-cohesive reservoir deltas. Once the most easily accessed sediment is eroded, however, larger floods can continue to access the remnant reservoir sediment and redistribute it downstream. Portions of the redistributed sediment remain (up- and downstream of the dam site), shaping a new landscape. (3) Dam height, sediment volume, and sediment grain size and cohesion strongly influence response to dam removal. Although removals of small dams with little stored sediment are more common, removals of large dams (≥10 m) with major sediment releases have had longer-lasting and more widespread downstream effects. (4) Downstream valley morphology and hydrology strongly influence the distribution of released sediment. Bedrock confinement versus wide alluvial reaches, downstream channel gradient, locations and depths of channel pools, locations and geometries of existing channel bars, position of the dam within a watershed, and flood occurrence all influence the downstream fate of released sediment. These findings increase understanding of the physical response to dam removal, set the stage for anticipating habitat and ecological changes, and allow better predictions for the outcomes of future dam removals.