1. "Won't the river turn into a trickle of water that a person could jump across?"
An easy way to predict the river's width and flow after a dam removal is to look at the river 1) before it reaches the impoundment and 2) just downstream of the dam. Unless the geology or topography changes substantially in the restored stretch of the river, it is highly unlikely that the restored river segment will be significantly wider or narrower than already found at these portions of the river.

2. "Won't we have more flooding problems?"
This is a legitimate concern only if the dam technically provides flood control. Most small dams do not. If, according to qualified personnel, the dam does not provide flood control, this needs to be explained to the community. (Explaining how one dam provides flood control but another dam does not can be a difficult idea to get across; see Chapter 2, Know the Dam for more information about the difference between a run-of-river dam and a flood control dam.) Many dams actually increase the risk of flooding, due to serious disrepair and/or misoperation during storm events.

3. "Won't we be left with stinking mud flats?"
 When the impoundment is drawn down during dam removal sediments will be exposed. Depending on the time of year and type of sediments, there may be an odor of decomposing silt and vegetation for a short period of time (typically ranging from a few days to a few weeks). Years of experience show that these newly exposed lands will revegetate (green up) within weeks during warm weather, thanks to the many plant seeds that have accumulated in the rich sediment over the years. Once exposed to sunlight and oxygen the plants grow very quickly and the sediments dry up in the process. Of course, if the exposed land is subject to dense shade, tidal action or other significant water level fluctuations, this area may not revegetate as much or as quickly.

4. "Who will own the new land?"
Dam removal usually results in exposing land that was previously underwater. Land ownership questions can usually be answered by referring to deeds and titles for the waterfront properties and the dam property. Failing to address this concern early in the process can unnecessarily cause alarm in the community. Avoid this problem by answering the question of land ownership as early as possible.

5. "Won't wildlife habitat be lost causing wildlife to suffer?"
The habitat created by the dam will change with dam removal. Consult your state natural resources agency for site-specific information and predicted changes. Historical records can sometimes provide a good indicator of what the restored habitat might look like. Healthy rivers are the lifeblood of healthy wildlife habitats. Dams alter the natural physical, biological and chemical functions of rivers. This results in degraded conditions for a variety of aquatic and terrestrial species. For instance, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has identified dams as one of the biggest threats to aquatic biodiversity in Wisconsin.

6. "Will property values plummet?"
This is usually a factor when there are private homes on the impoundment. Of course, this is a very site-specific issue, but there are several cases where predicted decreases in property value never occurred. River Alliance is funding a Univeristy study to more carefully examine this question in Wisconsin. Because this impact is best measured over time and has several variables involved (e.g., real estate market, location in state, characteristics of the property), it is best to look at property values at other former dam sites with similar community attributes. These could be in your state or elsewhere.

7. "Who will pay for the dam removal?"
This varies with the site. Sometimes the dam owner pays (e.g., an individual, taxpayers, a business). Sometimes private funds are acquired. Some states also provide funding for dam removal. One of the most effective ways to promote dam removal is to help identify funds for the removal. Consult your state dam safety official for information specific to your community and situation. Helping people in your community to understand the costs associated with both keeping and removing the dam can be among your most valuable efforts. Understand what is not included in most cost estimates. If professional estimates have not been made you will need to find a way to gather them. See our funding page for more information on that process.

8. "Doesn't the dam have historical value?"
This points out the need to look cumulatively at the dam's impacts to determine whether it has a true historical value that is greater than the environmental value of restoring the river. Historical issues can become a significant issue, especially if they arise near the end of the decision-making process. With the vast number of dams in many states and across the country, very few are considered true historic sites. At some dam removal sites, communities honor a dam's past contributions with interpretive displays and other information. If historical issues are likely to become an issue, early involvement of your states historical preservation office is recommended.  

9. "Won't the dam removal introduce exotic or diseased species?"
Dams sometimes act as barriers, protecting upstream areas from invading species. This is a site-specific issue that needs to be addressed by the appropriate state or federal natural resource agency. In many cases mitigation measures have been designed to restrict unwanted species.

10. "Won't the best fishing spots will be lost if the dam is removed?"
Often anglers like to fish right below the dam and oppose removal because they feel they will lose a good fishing opportunity. But the fish aren't there because its good habitat, they're usually stacked up trying to get upstream. Dam removal improves the health of the river and aquatic habitat, usually to such an extent that local anglers can look forward to improved angling opportunities along a much longer stretch of river. In some cases, removing a dam will restore a warmwater fishery to a more rare coldwater fishery that supports trout or salmon. In many cases, dam removal will allow a wider variety of warmwater, coolwater and coldwater species to seasonally occupy the same stretch of river, thus providing greater fishing variety.