Save The Sound Gets $100K From DEC To Study Removing Blind Brook Dam

RYE, NY — Environmental groups will study the feasibility of removing the Blind Brook Dam to protect wildlife and mitigate flooding issues.

$347,484 in grants were awarded to coastal organizations and municipalities to help restore free-flowing waters to benefit water quality, conserve and restore valuable habitat for aquatic species, and increase flood resiliency, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced this week.

"DEC is proud to work with local partners to help implement projects that restore marine habitats for vulnerable migratory fish like river herring and American eel, and at the same time are designed to mitigate flooding and protect coastal communities," Seggos said. "These projects are key to conserve and protect New York's valuable natural resources while we continue to lead the nation in promoting sustainable and resilient communities to combat extreme weather driven by climate change."

One of the recipients of funding is the Save the Sound/Blind Brook Dam Reconnaissance and Baseline Monitoring Project.

The DEC has earmarked $109,984 for Save the Sound to collaborate with the Rye City School District, the Rye Sustainability Committee, the Rye Conservation Committee, and the Rye Nature Center to initiate a dam removal feasibility study for the Blind Brook Dam in Rye.

The study will identify the effects of removing the existing dam, assess upstream barriers, and conduct baseline water quality and nutrient monitoring.

Dam removal at this site will potentially reconnect 3.5 miles of migratory fish habitat for river herring and American eel along the Blind Brook. Both species are designated as New York Species of Greatest Conservation Need. River herring and American eel migrate between freshwater and saltwater during their lifecycles. These species play a vital role in the ecosystem and are an important food source for recreational and commercial fish, marine mammals, migratory birds, river otters and other mammals. Such migratory fish populations have been significantly impacted by coastal development and barriers to tidal waterways such as dams and culverts that restrict access to vital freshwater spawning and nursery habitats.

The DEC funding will go towards project design and lab analysis at Save the Sound's Larchmont laboratory. Throughout the project's duration, community meetings will be held to collect information, share findings, and keep constituents updated on progress and relevant initiatives along the Blind Brook.

"Save the Sound would like to thank DEC for their generous funding of the Blind Brook dam reconnaissance project," said Laura Wildman, Regional Director of Ecological Restoration. "The Blind Brook Dam is the first barrier to migratory fish on the Blind Brook and this work will allow us to investigate options for the dam such that historic fish runs can be restored and water quality improved. We are excited to be working on this project with the Rye High School and their students who will play a critical role in this feasibility study, particularly as we monitor water quality upstream and downstream of the dam. It is wonderful when restoration projects can come together under a truly integrated community approach and develop our future river stewards."

Funding is provided by the NYS's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and is administered under DEC's Division of Marine Resources Marine Habitat Tributary Restoration and Resiliency Grant. Gov. Hochul increased the EPF from $300 to $400 million, in the 2022-23 State Budget, the highest-ever level of funding in the program's history.