In 2019, New Jersey completed the removal of the old Columbia Dam and reopened about 14 km of river; a 2026 study found juvenile eels, sea lampreys and American shad upstream after years of monitoring

Restored Paulinskill River (source: dep.nj.gov official site ) Many dams today no longer serve their original purpose, and yet they continue to require costly maintenance. For years, dams have hindered the natural course of rivers, preventing fish and other aquatic life from moving freely and causing damage not only to river ecosystems but also to the environment and overall water quality. One such dam that stood in the way of a New Jersey river was the Columbia Dam. The dam was finally removed in 2019, giving migratory fish the opportunity to swim upstream again. Now, a scientific study published in 2026 has found encouraging signs of recovery, including juvenile American eels, sea lampreys and adult American shad in areas above the former dam.The findings come from a long-term study published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution on April 13, 2026. Researchers monitored the Paulins Kill River in New Jersey over nine years, examining conditions before, during and after the dam's removal to understand whether the restoration was actually helping the river and its aquatic life recover.Why was the Columbia Dam removed?AI representation of the demolition of Columbia Dam (Canva Ai)Buil...