Resources Legacy Fund selects Greene Economics to study economic benefits of dam removal

Northern California’s Scott Dam is set for removal to aid salmon recovery. Photo: Kyle Schwartz

Study will inform decisions on aging dam infrastructure and river restoration

Resources Legacy Fund (RLF) has selected Greene Economics to lead a comprehensive analysis of the economic impacts and benefits of dam removal for its Open Rivers Fund program. The study will consolidate existing research and provide guidance for policymakers, advocates, and communities considering dam removal and river restoration projects across the American West.

RLF is an environmental nonprofit with 25 years of experience supporting conservation initiatives in California and across Western North America, from local community efforts to national policy campaigns. Since 2016, its Open Rivers Fund has helped communities remove more than 100 dams and culverts through strategic grantmaking, policy advocacy, research, and capacity building. Dam removal projects improve public safety, restore fish habitat, expand recreation, and reduce maintenance costs.

Economic data on dam removal remains scattered across studies, making it difficult for communities and decision-makers to evaluate potential projects. Greene Economics will lead a literature review, assess knowledge gaps, and develop a white paper summarizing key findings. The analysis will cover maintenance cost savings, property value changes, job creation, recreation and tourism impacts, commercial fishery benefits, and emergency costs associated with failing infrastructure. Impacts on low-income communities will also be considered.

The study is scheduled for completion in August 2026. The final white paper will include an executive summary and key findings designed for non-technical audiences.

"Almost 70 percent of the nation's 84,000 dams are more than 50 years old, and many have outlived their original purpose," said Sabine Postma, Senior Research Associate at Greene Economics. "This study will help communities and policymakers understand the full economic picture—from cost savings to public safety to enhanced recreation and habitat—so they can make informed decisions about aging infrastructure."

Water infrastructure experience across the American West

Greene Economics brings extensive experience in water infrastructure economics and dam impact analysis. The firm supported the Lower Snake River Water Supply Replacement Study for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and Washington State Department of Ecology, evaluating economic trade-offs under potential dam breach scenarios. Greene Economics developed an economic impact model for the Bureau's Klamath Project, estimating how irrigation changes affect agriculture and employment across three counties in Oregon and California. The firm also led an economic analysis for the Enloe hydroelectric project FERC relicensing in Washington.

Learn more about Greene Economics' work in environmental and natural resource economics, including water resources, infrastructure, and ecosystem services.