Table 2: Removal of hydroelectric projects in the US – selected case studies

Removal Complete FERC No. Dam River State Dam Height Installed Capacity Reservoir Size Inflated Removal Cost Built Age at Removal Retired Reason for Retirement
(year) (m) (MW) (Ha) ($M) (year) (years) (year)
1973 Lewiston Clearwater ID 14 10 2.9 1927 46 Reservoir full of sediment
1973 2482 Fort Edwards Hudson NY 10 2.85 78.9 2.0 1898 75 1969 Cost of repairs to aged structures
1991 10694 Willow Falls Willow WI 18 1 40.5 1.0 1870 121 1985 Flood damage
2000 2306 Newport No 11 Clyde VT 6 1.8 0.4 0.8 1957 43 1996 Partial collapse
1998 10696 Mounds Willow WI 18 0.4 23.1 0.7 1926 72 1963 Economic reasons
1999 2389 Edwards Kennebec ME 7 3.5 462.6 4.2 1837 162 1999 FERC denied relicensing for fish reasons
2000 3688 East Machias East Machias ME 5 1.5 0.7 1926 74 1962 Inadequate power generation
2001 10781 Orienta Iron WI 13 0.8 0.7 1947 54 1985 Flood damage
2002 7118 Smelt Hill Presumpscot ME 6 1.1 0.4 1898 104 1996 Flood damage
2002 4180 Sennebec St. George ME 5 0.4 0.4 1916 86 1961 No longer of use with the advent of larger generators
2003 2580 Stronach Pine MI 5 0.8 27.3 1.1 1912 91 1953 Reservoir full of sediment
2005 7490 Embrey Rappahannock VA 7 6 11.5 1910 95 1968 Inefficient compared to larger dams
2006 20 Cove Bear ID 8 7.5 3.0 3.5 1917 89 circa 2004 Cost of repairs vs. revenue
2006 11433 Madison Electric Works Sandy ME 5 0.547 0.5 1903 103 2006 Relicensing required fish ladders – too expensive
2005 2471 Sturgeon Sturgeon WI 15 0.8 100.4 2.3 1919 86 Mitigation for operation of other We Energies projects
2009 477 Marmot & Little Sandy Sandy ME 14 22 22.5 1912 97 Upgrade costs and fish
2012 Elwha and Glines Canyon Elwha WA 65 28.1 265.1 227.0 1910 & 1926 102, 86 Restore the river and fish runs
2009 2342 Condit White Salmon WA 38 14.7 526.1 27.8 1913 96 No longer economically viable with rising environmental costs
2012 2659 Powerdale Hood OR 3 6 6.5 1923 89 1/04/2010 Cost of fish compliance
2082 J.C. Boyle Company Klamath OR 21 80 170.0 20.4 1958 Restoration of river (600 miles) for fish runs
Copco No. 1 CA 38 20 404.7 22.1 1918 Restoration of river (600 miles) for fish runs
Copco No. 2 CA 10 27 16.2 4.0 1925 Restoration of river (600 miles) for fish runs
Iron Gate CA 53 18 382.0 40.0 1962 Restoration of river (600 miles) for fish runs