[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"permit-53":3},{"id":4,"acreageLimit":5,"changesFrom2021":6,"code":7,"commonProjects":8,"effectiveDate":15,"environmentalReview":16,"extension":17,"faq":18,"keyConditions":34,"linearFootLimit":5,"meta":41,"name":45,"pcnTrigger":71,"publicComments":51,"purpose":50,"relatedPermits":72,"seo":73,"shortName":46,"sourceDocumentUrl":69,"statutoryAuthority":47,"stem":74,"whoNeedsThis":52,"__hash__":75},"permits/permits/nwp-53.json",null,"The 2026 reissuance of NWP 53 maintains the same national terms and conditions as the 2021 version, with no substantive changes to the permit's scope or limits. The Corps reevaluated the permit's effectiveness and determined that the mandatory pre-construction notification (PCN) requirement for all activities remains the most appropriate mechanism to ensure that the release of impounded sediments results in no more than minimal adverse environmental effects.\n\nWhile the regulatory text is unchanged, the supporting decision document has been updated with the most recent environmental baseline data. This includes current information on the status of the nation's rivers and streams from the 2022 National Lakes Assessment and the 2021 National Wetland Condition Assessment, supporting the Corps' finding that the cumulative effects of removing these structures are overwhelmingly positive for the aquatic environment.","53",[9,10,11,12,13,14],"Full removal of a concrete low-head dam to restore fish passage","Demolition of an obsolete mill dam weir to improve public safety","Breaching and removal of a run-of-river dam for ecological restoration","Sediment management and bank stabilization following dam removal","Removal of a small low-head dam to reconnect upstream spawning habitat","Elimination of a hazardous circular current at a river weir site","2026-03-15","The Corps determined that the reissuance of NWP 53 results in a 'no effect' finding for federally-listed endangered or threatened species and designated critical habitat. This finding is maintained through General Condition 18, which requires project-specific ESA Section 7 consultation if an activity 'might affect' listed resources. In many cases, removing low-head dams is a primary recovery action for listed fish species, but the PCN process ensures that the timing of removal avoids sensitive spawning windows.\n\nCompliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act is ensured via General Condition 20. Because low-head dams are often older structures, the mandatory PCN allows district engineers to evaluate whether the dam itself is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. If so, necessary mitigation or documentation must be completed before the permit is verified. Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) is protected through site-specific reviews of sediment release plans.","json",[19,22,25,28,31],{"q":20,"a":21},"Do I need to submit a PCN to remove a low-head dam?","Yes, a Pre-Construction Notification (PCN) is mandatory for all activities authorized by NWP 53 before work can begin.",{"q":23,"a":24},"What is the acreage limit for NWP 53?","NWP 53 does not have a specific national numeric acreage limit. The district engineer evaluates each project via the PCN to ensure that the removal results in no more than minimal adverse effects.",{"q":26,"a":27},"Can I use this permit to remove a large hydroelectric dam?","No, NWP 53 is strictly for 'low-head dams'—structures built across a stream to pass flows over the crest without separate spillways. Larger dams require an individual permit.",{"q":29,"a":30},"What happens to the sediment trapped behind the dam?","The PCN must describe how you will manage the sediment. The district engineer may require a specific release strategy or mechanical removal to protect downstream water quality.",{"q":32,"a":33},"Does this permit cover the restoration of the stream bank?","Yes, NWP 53 authorizes the work necessary to stabilize the stream channel and banks as part of the dam removal process.",[35,36,37,38,39,40],"The structure removed must meet the specific definition of a low-head dam","Pre-Construction Notification (PCN) is mandatory for all activities","The site must be restored to its natural pre-dam condition","Must include a plan for managing the release of impounded sediments","Must comply with General Condition 18 for fish spawning and migration","Temporary fills for removal access must be removed and the site restored",{"path":42,"body":43,"title":70},"/permits/nwp-53",{"id":44,"code":7,"name":45,"shortName":46,"statutoryAuthority":47,"acreageLimit":5,"linearFootLimit":5,"pcnTrigger":48,"effectiveDate":15,"purpose":50,"changesFrom2021":6,"environmentalReview":16,"publicComments":51,"whoNeedsThis":52,"commonProjects":53,"keyConditions":54,"faq":55,"relatedPermits":61,"seo":66,"sourceDocumentUrl":69},"nwp-53","Removal of Low-Head Dams","NWP 53","10/404",{"type":49},"mandatory","Nationwide Permit 53 authorizes structures, work, and discharges of dredged or fill material associated with the removal of low-head dams. A low-head dam is defined as a dam or weir built across a stream to pass flows over the entire width of the dam crest without a separate spillway. These structures are often obsolete and pose significant public safety hazards due to dangerous circular currents, while also blocking fish passage and degrading river health.\n\nThe permit is designed to facilitate the restoration of river connectivity and the return of natural stream processes. It covers the physical removal of the dam structure and the associated sediment management required to stabilize the stream channel. Because the primary goal is ecological restoration and safety improvement, the permit provides a streamlined path for removing these barriers provided the site is restored to a natural condition.","Public feedback for NWP 53 was largely supportive, with many commenters noting the benefits for fish passage and the removal of 'drowning machines' that pose a risk to kayakers and swimmers. Some commenters expressed concern about the potential for contaminated sediments to be released downstream once the dam is breached. The Corps responded that the mandatory PCN allows district engineers to require sediment testing and controlled release strategies to manage these risks.\n\nOther commenters suggested that the permit should be expanded to larger dams. The Corps declined this, stating that the removal of larger dams involves complex engineering and significantly greater environmental risks that are better handled through the individual permit process. They affirmed that the specific definition of 'low-head dam' in the permit text is necessary to keep the authorization narrow enough for a nationwide permit.","State and local natural resource agencies, non-profit watershed groups, and dam owners seeking to reduce liability and restore stream health use this permit. It is the standard authorization for projects aimed at restoring fish passage and eliminating public safety hazards at small, obsolete weir structures.",[9,10,11,12,13,14],[35,36,37,38,39,40],[56,57,58,59,60],{"q":20,"a":21},{"q":23,"a":24},{"q":26,"a":27},{"q":29,"a":30},{"q":32,"a":33},[62,63,64,65],"NWP-3","NWP-13","NWP-27","NWP-33",{"title":67,"description":68},"NWP 53: Removal of Low-Head Dams - 2026 Permit Guide","Nationwide Permit 53 (NWP 53) for removing low-head dams and restoring streams. Sediment management plans, mandatory PCN, and Section 10/404 authority on Course Clear.","https://cdn.courseclear.io/usace/decision_documents/NWP-53-2026-Final-Decision-Document.pdf","Nwp 53",{"type":49},[62,63,64,65],{"title":67,"description":68},"permits/nwp-53","ats2Ti9GzLH2dW6U0rxeaME_-kbGr3CP0t0eKTrscxg"]