FOR INFORMATION:
Sheila D. David or Anne Hummer 
Tel: (202) 737-6307     Fax: (202) 737-6410

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:            September 15, 2003

NEW HEINZ CENTER REPORT ON DAM REMOVAL RESEARCH

Washington, D.C.:  The Heinz Center has released its latest report, Dam Removal Research: Status and Prospects. This new book offers expert insights into the many aspects of a decision on whether or not to remove a dam. It will be invaluable to all those engaged in and affected by decisions on the future of dams—state and local officials, businesses, engineers, researchers, and the public.

             In the spring of 2002, The Heinz Center released Dam Removal: Science and Decision Making. It quickly became a widely recognized source of information and guidance about the outcomes of dam removal, how to measure those outcomes, and how to blend science into the decision-making process. 

One of the observations made by the original Heinz Center panel was that, although science to support decisions for dam retention or removal was progressing, there has been little cross-disciplinary communication, and research priorities have not been established to guide researchers or funding efforts. The panel recommended improving communication across disciplinary boundaries through a technical conference or workshop that would bring together a range of researchers working on the scientific aspects of dam removal.

             Acting upon this recommendation, The Heinz Center held a workshop in October 2002 for more than thirty dam removal specialists, ranging from physical and social scientists and legal experts to decision makers and managers. The focus was on science and the state of knowledge available to decision makers, rather than on whether a particular dam should be removed or not. Experts presented papers on such topics as social perspectives on dam removal, the economic aspects of small dam removal, environmental considerations, and legal and regulatory requirements. Besides these individually authored chapters, Dam Removal Research: Status and Prospect, edited by William L. Graf, includes a summary of the workshop discussions.

            To obtain a free copy of Dam Removal Research: Status and Prospects, please contact Judy Goss at (202) 737-6307. The report is also available as a PDF file at www.heinzctr.org.

William L. Graf, editor, Dam Removal Research: Status and Prospects. Washington, DC: The H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment. xii + 152 pages, illustrated. ISBN 0-9717592-4-3.  

About The Heinz Center

Established in December 1995 in honor of Senator John Heinz, The H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment is a nonprofit, nonpartisan institution dedicated to improving the scientific and economic foundation for environmental policy through multisectoral collaboration. Focusing on issues that are likely to confront policymakers within two to five years, the Center fosters collaboration among industry, environmental organizations, academia, and government in each of its program areas and projects. It uses the best scientific and economic analyses to develop viable options to solving problems, and its findings and recommendations are widely disseminated to public and private sector decision makers, the scientific community, and the public.