More than 1,100 dams around the state have been removed to improve streams and rivers. Locally, two dams have been removed. The south Batavia dam was removed in 2005 and a dam in Aurora was removed in 2006, he said. Another nine tributary dams were removed including at Brewster Creek, Ferson Creek and Blackberry Creek. The Blackberry Creek stood for 170 years and within two weeks of its removal, carpsucker fish began spawning in the creek, Pescitelli said.