Documentary Follows Riverkeeper's Work To Remove Hudson Valley Dams

OSSINING, NY — About 1,600 dams, most of them obsolete and many hidden from view, fragment the rivers and streams of the Hudson Valley.

Riverkeeper embarked on a mission, and removing the dam at at Wynants Kill with help from the City of Troy and the state Department of Environmental Conservation in 2016, was just the start.

Within days of the removal, thousands of river herring were moving upstream to spawn for the first time in 85 years. The project was the first dam removed along the Hudson expressly for the passage of fish.

"By removing dams that no longer serve a purpose, we can reopen vital spawning grounds, revive the web of life, and allow the ecosystem to heal and flourish," Riverkeeper officials said.

"One Dam at a Time," a new documentary by National Geographic "Ocean Hero" Jon Bowermaster, highlights Riverkeeper’s dam removal work restoring free-flowing creeks in the Hudson Valley.

"One Dam at a Time" follows the effort as it extended to the Quassaick Creek in Newburgh and Furnace Brook in Westchester County in 2020, and shows how these streams are being transformed.

Members of the public are invited to watch the 22-minute film and learn about the effort during two upcoming free events:

• A World Premiere Virtual Film Screening, Tuesday, September 26, 6 p.m. The virtual screening will include a brief discussion and Q&A after the film with Bowermaster; Riverkeeper President Tracy Brown; Riverkeeper Patrol Boat Captain and Vice President for Advocacy John Lipscomb, and Riverkeeper Director of Habitat Restoration George Jackman, Ph.D. Register in advance here.
• A Screening & Brews event, Thursday, September 28, 7 p.m. at Industrial Arts Brewing Company, 511 Fishkill Avenue Beacon NY, 12508. The in-person screening will be followed by a brief discussion with Brown and Jackman. Attendees receive a complimentary beer with a $10 donation to Riverkeeper. Register here.

More information: Riverkeeper.org/dams