Environmentalists Set To Begin Norwalk River Dam Removal

WILTON, CT – Environmental nonprofit Save the Sound announced that construction has begun phase one of the Dana Dam Removal Project, following completion of all planning and required permitting.

Also known as Strong Pond Dam, the structure is currently the first barrier to migratory fish passage on the Norwalk River, which is free-flowing for 14 miles from the dam to Long Island Sound. Its removal will reopen 10 additional miles of upstream habitat for aquatic wildlife, while helping to mitigate flood risks to surrounding infrastructure in Merwin Meadows Park and downtown Wilton, both downstream from the dam.

"Reconnecting the Sound with such a long stretch of the Norwalk River is key to maintaining healthy fisheries and ecosystems throughout the watershed," said Gwen Macdonald, director of ecological restoration at Save the Sound, based in New Haven. "Free-flowing rivers are critical to coastal resilience as well as to the support of native and migratory fish species."

The first phase of construction involves repairing the dam's lower-level outlet, a mechanism that lowers the water level behind the dam, which is needed to stabilize and de-water the worksite before the next removal phase can proceed.

"As with any dam site, a lot of planning must happen before the actual removal begins, so we're very excited to see this moving forward after so many people have put so much effort into it," said Alex Krofta, ecological restoration projects manager at Save the Sound. "This dam removal is another step forward in the decades-long effort by other groups and organizations to restore the Norwalk River."

Save the Sound leads a group of local and state partners in the project that include the Town of Wilton, Trout Unlimited Mianus Chapter, and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Funding for the initial phase of construction has been provided through a grant from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, along with a combination of other project funding from state and federal grants and local foundations. Members of the public who want to support future phases of the project are welcome do so by contacting the organization directly.

The Dana Dam removal project is part of Save the Sound’s ecological restoration work in the Long Island Sound region.