Rhode Island TU and RIDEM Fish and Wildlife work together to identify projects that will be beneficial to restoring and maintaining our rivers. These are sites that will require removal and/or rearrangement to make the rivers and their tributaries more viable for future generations.

This project is located on the Flat River in Exeter. This was an old dam that had become damaged and blocked up heavily with debris. Our objective was the removal and rearrangement of rocks, debris, and degraded concrete at the site. This not only benefits the surrounding watershed and the river but also the Brook Trout and other aquatic species. This project restores access to the upstream reaches of the Flat River and tributaries, while helping to maintain both the flow and temperature of the river. This project restored the channel through this degraded and breached dam in July 2022.

Above such obstructions the still waters tend to warm quickly and become a breeding ground for bacteria and other pests that affect the health of the tributaries. Below is affected very heavily as well, as the slower waters tend to leave more silt and other debris at the base of the obstruction. This also restricts the flow downstream and reduces actual water levels. Research also shows that these slower waters tend to warm quicker and higher than is considered safe for native and wild Brook Trout and other aquatic life and plants. With the reduced flow, other areas downstream are more likely to have debris buildups. This creates a domino effect to the rivers and their tributaries.

We broke up these obstructions using hand tools (Sledgehammers, Pic-axes, shovels, etc.). A Grip Hoist was used to lift the large pieces of concrete and other debris up and out of the water. This is an essential part in improving the flow of the river and the health of the tributary.