Many dams are outdated and no longer serve the purpose they were once built for, and owners and communities are faced with the question of what to do with them. As our water ways become more popular for recreation, and the use and formation of water trails increase, removing man-made hazards in the river is becoming more important. Dam removal can have a myriad of benefits from improving river connectivity for aquatic organisms, decreasing flood risk in surrounding communities, and, most importantly to water trails, improving river access and safety.

Lisa will cover these topics and tap on her experience working on over 100 dam removals in her career to share how dam removal projects lead to tangible change. Ty will present on how the process of dam removal happens. Typically, the process of scoping and prioritizing projects, coordinating with landowners, securing funding, and design can take multiple years for a construction project that may only take a couple weeks. Ty will overview what to expect from a dam removal and how your organization can take on a project.

Panelists

Lisa Hollingsworth-Segedy, American Rivers, Director for River Restoration (Pittsburgh, PA) Lisa has been a dam removal project manager at American Rivers since 2008, during which time she has been involved in more than 100 dam removal design and construction projects in the Eastern US. Lisa’s responsibilities include identifying priority watersheds for dam removal investment, cultivating projects, engaging dam owners and the community to build support, procuring and contracting for professional services, fundraising, and engaging regulatory and resource agencies.

Ty Stephenson, American Rivers ,Tim Palmer River Conservation Fellow Ty is currently the Tim Palmer River Conservation Fellow at American Rivers where he works on progressing dam removal and restoration projects in Pennsylvania. Prior to working with American Rivers, Ty worked for the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Ty recently completed his master’s degree at Western Washington University where his research focused on benthic macroinvertebrate community dynamics in Washington’s National Parks and he earned his B.S. in fish and Wildlife Conservation from Virginia Tech. In his free time Ty enjoys paddling and snorkeling in freshwater.

Registration

On the second Tuesday of the month, the River Management Society hosts River Management Roundtables, facilitated virtual discussions with professional river and water trails managers. These peer-to-peer conversations provide an open forum to ask questions, share solutions, and build camaraderie. There is no fee or membership requirement to attend, though registration is required. Discussions are recorded and shared with registrants. 

Register

About Our 2026 Water Trails Series

Our 2026 River Management Roundtable series includes a set of sessions designed specifically to support water trail managers. Topics were identified through a survey of water trail managers and are being developed in response to the priorities and challenges they shared. Together, these sessions form a connected series focused on practical, timely issues in river and water trail management, and will help inform ongoing collaboration through the RMS Water Trails Working Group. Anyone interested in these topics is encouraged to attend.

• Jan. 13: Easements and Public River Access
• March 10: Dam Removal and Mitigation—Trends and New Norms
• May 12: Recreational and Environmental Dam Releases
• July 14: Dam Awareness, Law Enforcement, Rescue Operations
• Sep. 8: River and Water Trail Accessibility
• Nov. 10: Managing Complex Water Trail Networks