The Sandy River's Marmot Dam in Oregon was decommissioned in 2007 after 100 years of operation. The dam's owner PGE plans to help improve wild salmon and steelhead habitat, permanently protecting riparian environment along rivers impacted by the project, and expand recreational opportunities in the basin.

PGE is donating water rights to Oregon, while nearly 1,500 acres of Portland General Electric's (PGE) Sandy River Basin land is being given to the Western Rivers Conservancy for a planned 9,000-acre conservation and recreation area.

In New Hampshire, removal of the Merrimack Village Dam, which dates back to 1880, is in progress. Pennichuck Corporation acquired the dam in 1964 to protect and control a source of drinking water supply for the region. Studies determined the costs of repairing and maintaining the dam did not justify the benefits of keeping it.

In Washington State planning is well underway for removal of a concrete dam on the north fork of Little Hoquiam River, which frees up water rights, so the City of Hoquiam can drill wells as a more reliable source of water. The dam was a water source until the early 1980s, but the city currently uses surface water for drinking water.