The Power of Interdisciplinary Research: Addressing the Complex Problem of Aging New England Dams
Dart’s Stone Mill, built in 1868 by textile manufacturer Albert Dart, stands above a waterfall on the Hockanum River in Rockville, Connecticut. This historic 19th-century mill harnessed water power through a stone-lined channel to drive its machinery--one of many mills that helped fuel the region’s industrial growth. (Adobe Stock Image #115266673)
Hydropower dams in New England played a pivotal role in fueling industrial growth in the 19th and early 20th centuries, powering machinery in mills and factories throughout the region. Today, more than 50 hydropower dams in New England are slated for relicensing by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in this decade. Deciding whether to remove, retrofit, or leave a dam intact requires evaluating a wide range of environmental, economic, and social factors.
The goal of the $6 million NSF-funded Future of Dams project was to develop a methodology and suite of tools to help communities and stakeholders understand how the multiple functions of dams are impacted by management decisions. The project aimed to assist them in making informed, evidence-based decisions about dam management. The initiative brought together an interdisciplinary team of researchers from Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, with expertise in engineering, environmental science, hydrology, zoology, economics, and social science, including specialists in community engagement and decision-making processes.
Ben Blachly, then a graduate student in economics at the University of Rhode Island, joined the project in its second year in 2016. The project’s interdisciplinary approach resonated with him, and the stable, multi-year funding from a large federal grant allowed him to focus fully on the research rather than piecing together income each semester. Ben developed an appreciation for the unique problem-solving methods of different disciplines, as well as how collaboration across diverse fields leads to more effective, balanced solutions to complex challenges.
He worked on three key economic analyses for the project: a predictive model for dam removal costs; a survey in the Penobscot (Maine) watershed to assess public trade-offs between fish populations and hydropower; and an analysis of public preferences for balancing environmental protection with economic benefits. These efforts provided critical data for the project’s decision-making tools, integrating ecological and economic considerations.
Ben now works for a Boston-based environmental consulting firm, where his recent projects have included evaluating the benefits of coastal resilience investments, assessing the economic effects of conservation policies, designing primary nonmarket valuation studies, and estimating economic damages from hazardous releases. Ben credits the Future of Dams project with honing his communication skills, particularly in explaining complex economic concepts to non-economists, and for cultivating his appreciation for the value of cross-disciplinary problem solving.
As Ben stated, “In the end, the success of projects like the Future of Dams lies in the willingness of experts from various disciplines to work together. The complexity of today’s problems demands an interdisciplinary, collaborative approach."
Support for the NSF EPSCoR project, “Strengthening the scientific basis for making decisions about dams: Multi-scale, coupled-systems research on ecological, social, and economic trade-offs” (The Future of Dams) was provided by the National Science Foundation's Office of Integrative Activities Award #1539071.