Photo by Madeleine Lyttle, USFWS. September 2008. Cox Brook Dam site showing the amount of gravel that had to be removed prior to deconstruction of the dam

Photo taken by Madeleine Lyttle, USFWS taken June 2008. Cox Book Dam was built in the 1930’s but never put to work. It was removed in September 2008 after years of blocking fish and gathering tons of gravel.

The Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Resources Office and the New England Field Office cooperated, with a host of other partners, on the removal of Cox Brook Dam in Northfield, Vermont.  The removal opened 2.5 miles of habitat for brook trout and other salmonid species.  The Service provided funds for the removal from both the National Fish Passage Program and the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.  The Dog River has long been recognized as an outstanding trout stream.  Project partners included Trout Unlimited, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and the landowner.  The dam, situated at the top of an impressive series of bedrock cascades, was built in the 1930's but was never used for a commercial venture.  Instead it acted as a local swimming hole until the village decided not to annually remove the gravel building-up behind the structure.  The dam was poorly fortified and easily removed within three days, much to the relief of the downstream landowner.  Fish were seen jumping the cascades and maneuvering through the construction site the day after the project was completed.  The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has agreed to monitor the fish migration as part of their annual surveys.