Cuddebackville Dam

The dam was removed in October, 2004 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in partnership with the Nature Conservancy to benefit the aquatic life in the area.

[1] Removal of the dam caused a change in the hydrology of the Neversink River and impeded the flow of water into the D&H Canal feeder.

This led to the withering of the one mile long segment of the D&H Canal at Cuddebackville which had remained watered up to that time.

The Neversink River is the home to a rich diversity of aquatic life, some of which are on the list of federally endangered species.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation had reported cases of schools of 100 to 1000 fish attempting to migrate up the Neversink River, only to be blocked by the dam.

[1] In order to protect the endangered aquatic life in the Neversink River the dam was removed in October, 2004.

The Nature Conservancy's interest in the situation began in 1993, three years after the Dwarf Wedge Mussel was discovered and placed on the federal endangered species list.

This also shows a changing mindset in the upcoming generation of engineers who in general may be more opposed to dam construction than their predecessors.

The project also marks the first time that the Army Corps of Engineers has worked with a nonprofit organization like the Nature Conservancy since a federal law was passed in 1999 allowing such a partnership.