The nature conservancy is partnering with the new jersey department of environmental protectionu.s. Fish and wildlife service two private landowners and the statewide DAM removal partnership toadvance…

The nature conservancy is partnering with the new jersey department of environmental protectionu.s. Fish and wildlife service two private landowners and the statewide DAM removal partnership toadvance the removal of two dams the lower and upper E.R. Collins dams on the pequest river. Theseremovals will restore and reconnect habitat for diadromous fish species including american shadalewife american EEL and native sea lamprey and restore access to three miles of potential spawningground and habitat. The pequest river is listed as high priority in the NOAA restoration centersnortheast region for fish passage due to cooccurrences of multiple priority species. The lower e. R. Collins DAM is a 7FOOTHIGH 145FOOTLONG wood DAM and is owned by the njdepdivision of fish and wildlife. The upper e. R. Collins DAM is a 7FOOTHIGH 85FOOTWIDE concrete ogeedam jointly owned by two citizens. These two dams are within 1500 feet of the confluence with thedelaware river and in addition to blocking fish migration and degrading instream habitat contribute tothe flooding of homes and businesses in the town of belvidere. Because of the dams proximity to oneanother removing both dams under one project will provide cost savings and minimize disturbance tolocal residences and businesses. We are seeking funding for the extensive engineering studies that are needed to understand projectfeasibility the development of engineering design plans for concurrent removal of the two dams andproject permiting. The design must address challenges in the project area including two warren countybridges a railroad bridge and two buildings associated with the upper DAM structure. Followingcompletion of the engineering design and permiting work described in this application these two damremoval projects will be shovel ready. Removal of these two dams will accomplish project goals torestore migratory fish passage restore degraded habitat and reduce local flooding in the town ofbelvidere. Review of FEMA flood profiles indicate that removal of the upper E.R. Collins DAM willmitigate flooding for the 10 50 and 100YEAR floods by up to three feet.