Elm Street Dam Removal and River Restoration

Elm Street Dam was constructed as part of the adjacent Kingston Water Department Building and was located 10 feet downstream from the recently reconstructed Elm Street Bridge. The dam spillway was an important aesthetic feature as a “waterfall” for an adjacent events facility, but it substantially impaired ecological resources in the Jones River and required ongoing dam safety inspections and maintenance.

Removing the dam required coordination with a diverse and committed group of stakeholders. The Jones River Watershed Association (JRWA) convened a diverse project team, including the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration (MassDER) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and engaged with stakeholders to identify and address opportunities and constraints.

Elm Street Dam was successfully removed in 2019. Our contribution began in 2014 and included multiple phases of engineering design and permitting support. Project completion was a milestone event for JRWA and will benefit a suite of diadromous and resident fish, including alewife, blueback herring, American eel, brook trout, rainbow smelt, and other species.