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Course Details
Course Name: Dam Removal: Design, Planning, and Implementation
Course Code: EW0404WA23
Date of Most Recent Offering: June 8 & 9, 2023
Course Overview
In the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed into law in November 2021, there is $800 million for dam removal. With the growing awareness and funding in the United States and other areas of the world, such as Europe, this dam safety compliance and ecosystem restoration approach will increase the demand for professionals knowledgeable about this type of project.
Decommissioning these structures can be complex, involving the protection of infrastructure, mitigation of sediment discharges, an understanding of riverine processes, ecosystem function, and hydraulics, as well as addressing stakeholder concerns.
Featured Topics
- Dam Demolition Techniques
- Hydraulic and Sediment Transport Modeling
- Developing Conceptual Models of the Resulting Impoundment
- Sediment Management
- Fish Passage
- Ecosystem Restoration of the Former Lakebed
Who Should Attend?
Individuals who want to increase their knowledge and understanding of dam removal projects will benefit from attending this course. Past participants have included:
- Biologists
- Conservation Ecologists
- Ecological Restoration Coordinators
- Engineers
- Environmental Analysts
- Environmental Scientists
- Grant Writers
- Landscape Architects
- Permit Coordinators
- Project Managers
- Restoration Directors
- Stream Habitat Coordinators
Meet Your Instructors
Faculty Coordinator
Geoffrey M. Goll, P.E.

Geoffrey Goll is the President of Princeton Hydro, a multidisciplinary water resources and geosciences engineering firm with offices throughout the Northeast, of which he is a founding member. Mr. Goll obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Rutgers University, College of Engineering and a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He has more than 30 years of experience in engineering and is licensed in nine states and the District of Columbia.
He has pioneered the removal of dams in NJ, with the first dam removed to provide fish passage in this state started more than 20 years ago. Since that time, he has been in charge of and the engineer of record for more than 100 dams all over the northeastern United States for the purpose of dam removal and decommissioning specifically for compliance, fish migration, floodplain reconnection, and ecosystem restoration. He has presented at regional and national conferences on the subjects of dam safety, removal, and ecosystem restoration.
Additional Instructors
Dr. Stephen J. Souza

Dr. Souza is the owner of Clean Waters Consulting, LLC. He has more than 35 years of project experience managing and restoring lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Dr. Souza received his B.S. from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, his M.S. from Rutgers University, and his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut. Dr. Souza is the Founder of Princeton Hydro, LLC and served as the company’s President until his recent retirement from Princeton Hydro in 2019.
Dr. Souza has served as an instructor and course coordinator for the Rutgers NJAES Office of Continuing Professional Education for more than 25 years. He is an Adjunct Professor at Temple University and also conducts professional continuing education courses at Montclair State University.
Dr. Souza is a past president of the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS), as well as the Pennsylvania Lake Management Society (PALMS). He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC). Dr. Souza’s achievements include the NJ-American Water Resources Association Peter J. Homack Award (2012), the NALMS Lake Management Success Story Award (2017), and the NYS Federation of Lake Associations Lake Tear of the Clouds Award (2018). He is a frequent guest speaker for the NJ Coalition of Lake Associations, as well as NJDEP, NYSDEC, and other entities dedicated to the protection, restoration, and management of water resources.
Laura Craig, Ph.D., Engineering and Land Planning Associates, Inc.
Clay Emerson, Ph.D. P.E, CFM, Princeton Hydro, LLC
Beth Styler-Barry, Director of Freshwater Programs, The Nature Conservancy
Brent Teske, Anchor QEA
Paul Drew, Anchor QEA
Student Reviews
“The diversity of presentation topics was a strength of the program – permitting, stakeholder engagement, hydrology, engineering and design, biology, etc. Also, the order of the presentations was well done.”
– Past Participant
Most useful aspect of the course: “Coverage of the wide range of topics that come up during a full-scale dam removal. The sediment and modeling sections were very helpful from an engineering point of view. It was also very helpful from a project management point of view by laying out detailed steps that go into a dam removal project.”
– Past Participant
Most useful aspect of the course: “Everything! Great background and underlying information. Great information on Day 2 on what to look for when planning/implementing a dam removal project – hope to use that for some projects.”
– Past Participant
Continuing Education Credits
The most recent offering of Dam Removal: Design, Planning, and Implementation was approved for approved for 0.7 Rutgers CEUs as well as the following credits from professional organizations. We will reapply for similar credits the next time the course runs, but we cannot guarantee credit approval for future offerings.
New Jersey
NJ Landscape Architects: Pending
NJ Professional Engineers/Land Surveyors: 7 Continuing Professional Competency (CPC) Credits
New York
NY Landscape Architects: 7 hours
NY Professional Engineers/Land Surveyors: 3.75 PDHs
National
American Planning Association (APA): Pending
Certified Floodplain Managers (CFM): 6.5 CECs
Program Questions? We’re Here to Help!
If you have any questions about Dam Removal: Design, Planning, and Implementation, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Program Coordinator: Suzanne Hills
848-932-7234
suzanne.hills@rutgers.edu
For registration assistance, please contact our Registration Department at 848-932-9271, option 2 or email registration@njaes.rutgers.edu.