In January 2000, the New Hampshire River Restoration Task Force was formed with the common goal of exploring opportunities to selectively remove dams for a variety of reasons, including for the purpose of restoring rivers and eliminating public safety hazards. The task force is an initiative with diverse and growing representation, including multiple state and federal agencies, conservation organizations, local interests and others.

Through its work, the task force is enabling an efficient and effective process of removing dams in New Hampshire. Due to the collaborative efforts of the task force, the first New Hampshire dam removal for the purpose of river restoration was completed in Summer 2001 -- the McGoldrick Dam on the Ashuelot River in Hinsdale. The removal of this dam is a critical piece of a larger plan to restore anadromous fish to the Ashuelot River, a historically significant Connecticut River tributary for American shad, blueback herring, and Atlantic salmon. A second dam on the Ashuelot River, the Winchester Dam, was also removed in July 2002. Several additional projects are currently in the planning and permitting process.