The ipswich mills DAM removal project is one of the most important restoration efforts both in the ipswich river watershed and within the entirety of the contributing area for the great marsh area…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $1,230,000 Project Grant through the National Fish Passage Program (CFDA 15.685) to the Ipswich River Watershed Association, Inc. for the Ipswich Mills Dam Removal Project. This project will permanently restore 49 miles of mainstem and tributary habitat for native and migratory fish populations in the Ipswich River watershed and the Great Marsh Area of Critical Environmental Concern. Key project elements include full removal of the Ipswich Mills Dam, stabilization and in-stream adjustments, and mitigation for impacted infrastructure. Upon completion by September 30, 2027, the project will restore natural fluvial processes, improve fish passage and habitat connectivity across 186 miles of upstream habitat, and provide additional benefits such as improved water quality, flood reduction, liability removal, and recreational improvements.

The ipswich mills DAM removal project is one of the most important restoration efforts both in the ipswich river watershed and within the entirety of the contributing area for the great marsh area of critical environmental concern. This project on its own will open over 49 miles of mainstem and tributary habitat for native and migratory fish populations. This project is critical to the success of many other ongoing efforts in the watershed to restore connectivity for local priority species such as river herring. As the head of tide DAM on the ipswich river DAM removal will permanently restore a rare freshwater tidal habitat to the area above the DAM. This effort will result in the restoration of the natural floodplain area located upstream of the DAM. DAM removal will restore natural fluvial processes and improve fish passage and access to habitats in addition to improving water quality. DAM removal will also reduce upstream flood levels while removing a safety liability from the landscape and also offer a multitude of recreational benefits. This project proposes full removal of the ipswich mills DAM. Removal would restore or improve fish passage and habitat connectivity to approximately 186 miles of upstream habitat, 343 acres of spawning habitat and 13 acres of freshwater tidal marsh. In addition to improved fish passage habitat, the project will also result in improved water quality, flood reduction, liability removal, and recreational improvements. Elements of the proposed project include DAM removal, stabilization and in-stream adjustments, as well as structural mitigation for key infrastructure expected to impacted by the DAM removal. This project will complete three on-going fish passage project by the USFWS and NOAA upstream, removal of this final head of tide DAM will open the vast majority of the ipswich watershed.