American Rivers says Brentwood Hydro, Exeter watershed removals will restore river by 2026

At the Brentwood Conservation Commission’s January meeting, Dr. Andy Fisk of American Rivers outlined the organization’s role in removing the Brentwood Hydro (also called Phillips Dam) and in broader river‑restoration work on the Exeter River watershed. "In terms of timing, we believe in 2026 you will actually see the completion of the Brentwood Hydro saga and that dam will be removed and this portion of the river will then be free flowing again," Fisk said.

Fisk told commissioners that American Rivers is acting as a project partner to secure federal funds and to manage engineering and permitting: the group has issued an RFP for engineering and permitting services, will pursue Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and other federal dollars, and has "taken formal control of that property in order to facilitate" federal funding and the design work. He said the dam owner has agreed that the structure should be removed and has authorized access to pursue funding.

The presentation explained why dam removal is pursued: reconnecting migratory fish runs (river herring, Atlantic salmon, American eel), improving water quality and stream temperatures, and reducing public‑safety hazards posed by small low‑head dams. Fisk cited national experience, including the multi‑dam Klamath project, and said American Rivers has a national goal to remove 30,000 dams by 2050. He also described the regulatory and funding landscape: state dam‑safety programs, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) precedent that has weighed costs and benefits of older hydropower projects, and competitive federal programs such as NOAA’s Fish Passage Program.

Commissioners and residents pressed Fisk on local impacts. A resident who identified herself as Nata, who said she acquired the Phillips/Brentwood dam after earlier family ownership, described prior attempts to operate small hydropower at the site and said the economics did not support rehabilitation. "Sixty kilowatts is virtually nothing. It may run five houses' worth of power," Nata said of the small‑scale generation once present at the site.

Conservation commissioners asked about what the post‑removal river and adjacent land would look like, how far upstream channel and wetland changes might extend, and how to protect private access points, dry hydrants and other infrastructure currently tied to reservoir levels. Fisk said design and permitting define the affected project area — generally the former reservoir footprint — and engineers either let the channel re‑form naturally or actively reconstruct a channel and riparian zone. He said projects typically include active riparian restoration and multi‑year invasive‑species management budgets; regulators often require several years of monitoring and follow‑up work.

Fisk described two nearby project strands: the Pickpocket Dam in Exeter (which the town of Exeter has voted to remove) and the Brentwood Hydro/Phillips Dam. He said Exeter’s Pickpocket removal effort is pursuing NOAA Fish Passage funding and that combined removals in the watershed will improve passage to the upper Exeter and benefit Great Bay. Fisk said American Rivers will coordinate permitting and funding for Brentwood Hydro and expects removal permitting, design and construction financing to move the project to removal by 2026.

Local officials and residents raised concerns about changes to wetland types and property character if impoundments shrink, about potential short‑term disturbance during construction, and about public access and recreational changes (from pond paddling to a flowing river). Fisk responded that some impoundments convert from open‑water wetlands to emergent marsh or riparian forest and that the ecological function can improve; he also said paddling and recreational uses will change but that design can consider access points and fire department dry‑hydrant needs.

Fisk encouraged Brentwood to engage in design reviews and to participate in regulatory and funding processes. He said American Rivers plans to complete permitting and design work and to secure resources for removal, while acknowledging many projects require collaboration among dam owners, municipalities and federal funders. Commissioners asked how Brentwood could be involved; Fisk said there will be ample regulatory review and opportunities for municipal input on restoration design.

The presentation closed with a request that Brentwood monitor the permitting schedule and restoration plans and coordinate with Exeter and regional partners as federal funding applications and engineering work proceed.