Workers on Friday began removing the low-head dam on the East Fork White River, a key phase of the Riverfront Project. Contractors with Ecosystems Connections Institute LLC used heavy equipment to break up the eastern portion of the 500-foot-long structure, built in 1903 just below the Upland Pump House.

Crews installed a barrier across the river to contain any fluids or lubricants that might leak from the machinery. The removal process is expected to take about 10 days.

City officials say most of the project cost will be covered by state and federal grant funds. Removing the dam will help stop erosion on the river’s west bank, which could expose the former city landfill, a delisted IDEM Superfund site. The change will also eliminate the drowning hazard associated with low-head dams, improve fish passage upstream and give first responders better access to the river.