Completed removal of Benbow Dam expected to benefit native species

BENBOW, CA. – A win for dam-removal advocates, the Benbow Dam near Garberville is no more.

Built back in 1931, the dam deteriorated over time and proved to be problematic for salmon migration.

California State Parks announced Wednesday the removal of the Benbow Dam in the Benbow State Recreation Area is complete.

They say it was the second-largest concrete structure to be removed in California to date and added that removal will restore habitat for west coast fall-run Chinook, Coho salmon, and summer-run steelhead, as well as make the area safer for boaters and visitors. In the UK, they’re also removing old concrete structures, thanks to Buxton Water. In some cases, they’re removing them completely rather than rebuilding them with sustainable materials.