Dam Removal: Design, Planning, and Implementation

Learn the technical aspects of investigating and designing projects that both deregulate antiquated dams and provide ecological uplift.

Main Content

Construction vehicle removing Hughesville Dam on Musconetcong River

Course Status: Not Currently Scheduled

We do not have an offering of this course scheduled at this time. Please join our email list to be notified when the next offering is scheduled!

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Course Details

Course Name: Dam Removal: Design, Planning, and Implementation
Course Code: EW0404WA22

Date: TBD
Time: TBD

Location: Online
Format: Live, instructor-led

Registration Fee: TBD
Early Bird Discount Fee: TBD (expires TBD)

Registration Closes: TBD

Paying with a check, money order, or purchase order?
Payments should be made out to: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Checks and money orders should be mailed to: Office of Continuing Professional Education, Attn: Registration Dept., 102 Ryders Ln, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8519
Purchase Orders can be mailed to the address above or electronically sent to registration@njaes.rutgers.edu.

Course Overview

In the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed into law in November 2021, there is $800 million for dam removal. With the growing awareness and funding in the United States and other areas of the world, such as Europe, this dam safety compliance and ecosystem restoration approach will increase the demand for professionals knowledgeable about this type of project.

Decommissioning these structures can be complex, involving the protection of infrastructure, mitigation of sediment discharges, an understanding of riverine processes, ecosystem function, and hydraulics, as well as addressing stakeholder concerns.

  • Dam Demolition Techniques
  • Hydraulic and Sediment Transport Modeling
  • Developing Conceptual Models of the Resulting Impoundment
  • Sediment Management
  • Fish Passage
  • Ecosystem Restoration of the Former Lakebed

Who Should Attend?

Individuals who want to increase their knowledge and understanding of dam removal projects will benefit from attending this course. Past participants have included:

  • Biologists
  • Conservation Ecologists
  • Ecological Restoration Coordinators
  • Engineers
  • Environmental Analysts
  • Environmental Scientists
  • Grant Writers
  • Landscape Architects
  • Permit Coordinators
  • Project Managers
  • Restoration Directors
  • Stream Habitat Coordinators

Meet Your Instructors

Faculty Coordinators

Geoffrey M. Goll, P.E.

Headshot of instructor Geoffrey Goll

Geoffrey Goll is the President of Princeton Hydro, a multidisciplinary water resources and geosciences engineering firm with offices throughout the Northeast, of which he is a founding member. Mr. Goll obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Rutgers University, College of Engineering and a Master of Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He has over 30 years of experience in engineering and is licensed in nine states and the District of Columbia.

He has pioneered the removal of dams in NJ, with the first dam removed to provide fish passage in this state started over 20 years ago. Since that time he has been in charge and the engineer of record of over 100 dams all over the northeastern United States for the purpose of dam removal and decommissioning specifically for compliance, fish migration, floodplain reconnection, and ecosystem restoration. He has presented at regional and national conferences in the subject of dam safety, removal, and ecosystem restoration.

Dr. Stephen J. Souza

Headshot of instructor Dr. Stephen J. Souza

Dr. Souza is the owner of Clean Waters Consulting, LLC. He has over 35 years of project experience managing and restoring lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Dr. Souza received his B.S. from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, his M.S. from Rutgers University, and his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut. Dr. Souza is the Founder of Princeton Hydro, LLC and served as the company’s President until his recent retirement from Princeton Hydro in 2019.

Dr. Souza has served as an instructor and course coordinator for the Rutgers NJAES Office of Continuing Professional Education for over 25 years. He is an Adjunct Professor at Temple University and also conducts professional continuing education courses at Montclair State University.

Dr. Souza is a past president of the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS), as well as the Pennsylvania Lake Management Society (PALMS). He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC). Dr. Souza’s achievements include the NJ-American Water Resources Association Peter J. Homack Award (2012), the NALMS Lake Management Success Story Award (2017), and the NYS Federation of Lake Associations Lake Tear of the Clouds Award (2018). He is a frequent guest speaker for the NJ Coalition of Lake Associations, as well as NJDEP, NYSDEC, and other entities dedicated to the protection, restoration, and management of water resources.

Additional Instructors

Laura Craig, Ph.D., Princeton Hydro, LLC

Clay Emerson, Ph.D. P.E, CFM, Princeton Hydro, LLC

Beth Styler-Barry, Director of River Restoration, The Nature Conservancy

Paul Woodworth, CERP, Princeton Hydro, LLC

Student Reviews

“The diversity of presentation topics was a strength of the program – permitting, stakeholder engagement, hydrology, engineering and design, biology, etc. Also, the order of the presentations was well done.”

– Past Participant

Most useful aspect of the course: “Coverage of the wide range of topics that come up during a full-scale dam removal. The sediment and modeling sections were very helpful from an engineering point of view. It was also very helpful from a project management point of view by laying out detailed steps that go into a dam removal project.”

– Past Participant

Most useful aspect of the course: “Everything! Great background and underlying information. Great information on Day 2 on what to look for when planning/implementing a dam removal project – hope to use that for some projects.”

– Past Participant

Continuing Education Credits

The most recent offering of Dam Removal: Design, Planning, and Implementation was approved for the following credits from professional organizations. We will reapply for similar credits the next time the course runs, but we cannot guarantee credit approval for future offerings.

The Dam Removal: Design, Planning, and Implementation course is approved for 0.7 Rutgers CEUs, as well as the following credits from professional organizations.

State of New Jersey map iconNew Jersey

NJ Land Surveyors: 7 credits

NJ Professional Engineers/Land Surveyors: 7 Continuing Professional Competency (CPC) Credits

State of New York map iconNew York

NY Landscape Architects: 7 hours

NY Professional Engineers/Land Surveyors: 3.75 PDHs

United States map iconNational

American Planning Association (APA): Pending

Certified Floodplain Managers (CFM): 6.5 CECs

Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) Program: 7 Continuing Education Credits

Course Requirements and Policies

electronic devices iconTechnology Requirements

This online course will be delivered via Zoom. On March 23, 2022, registrants will receive an email with a link to access the course. Please log into Zoom at 8:00 am EDT (30 minutes before start time) for a brief overview of the online format. The course will start promptly at 8:30 am EDT.

Equipment you will need to access this training:

  • Laptop or desktop computers are required for this class.
  • Speakers and microphone are not necessary as a call-in option is available.

email iconEmail Requirement

A unique email address is required for each registrant to register and access our courses.

  • If this is your first time registering with us, please provide your own unique email address when registering; do not provide an email address that you share with co-workers.
  • If you have previously taken classes with us and have used an email address that you share with your co-workers or supervisor, your account must be updated with a unique email address. To do this, please send an email to us at registration@njaes.rutgers.edu stating that your email address needs to be changed and include:
    • Your full name
    • The shared email address that needs to be changed
    • Your unique email address
    • A phone number where you can be reached if we have any questions

camera iconPhoto ID Requirement

Each registrant will be asked provide a photo of him/herself holding their government-issued photo ID. This is required by credit boards so that you may receive credits for participating in this online course.

  • You will receive a reminder email prior to the start of the class with further instructions. Wait to receive these instructions before you attempt to upload your ID.
  • The photo must be clear enough that we can read your name and verify that the person pictured on the ID is in fact the person holding it.
  • The photo must be clear enough that we can read your name and verify that the person pictured on the ID is in fact the person holding it.
  • After an OCPE staff member reviews the picture and verifies your identity, you will have access to participate in the course when it begins.

x icon with circle around itCancellations and Substitutions

A $100 cancellation fee applies for this course. Substitutions are permitted. View our cancellation policy.

Program Questions? We’re Here to Help!

If you have any questions about Dam Removal: Design, Planning, and Implementation, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Headshot of Rutgers Program Coordinator Suzanne Hills

Program Coordinator: Suzanne Hills
848-932-7234
suzanne.hills@rutgers.edu

For registration assistance, please contact our Registration Department at 848-932-9271, option 2 or email registration@njaes.rutgers.edu.

Stormwater flowing out of drainage system

Stormwater Management for Engineers

Rooftop garden representing green stormwater management practices

Green Stormwater Management

Environmental engineers walking toward construction vehicles working on recovery of degraded waterfront ecosystem
Photo Credit: USACE

Restoration Ecology

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