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Dam Removal in New Jersey: Ecological Uplift, Public Safety, and Building Ecosystem Resilience in Advance of Climate Change

October 15, 2019, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location Center for Environmental and Life Sciences - 120
Posted InCollege of Science and Mathematics

Beth Styler Barry, The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey, presents this week's seminar.

About Beth

Beth Styler Barry leads development and implementation of major stream restoration projects, including dam removals, from permit application to working with engineers, contractors, and partners for successful project completion. She leads the NJ Statewide Dam Removal Partnership.  Beth previously worked as executive director of the Musconetcong Watershed Association. She has a Bachelors Degree in Biochemistry from Rutgers University and a Masters Degree in Environmental Management from Montclair State University.

About the Seminar

Dam removals are often the subject of controversy.  We’ll explore dam removals from planning to (de)construction and see examples of ecosystem changes that follow. New Jersey has over 1700 dams, the average age of these dams is over 50 years.  Many dams have a public use, they may provide a potable water supply or create economically important recreational lakes.  However, many dams have outlived their intended use, have fallen into serious disrepair and negatively impact ecosystems.