Selectboard Meeting about the Old Reservoir

November 20, 2024

Jennifer Green, AECOM, coordinator for abandoned dams program

DCR Abandoned Dams Program

6 dams statewide are part of pilot program, prioritized because they are high hazard/unsafe.

Outreach in 2019

Alternatives:

• Repair
  • Requires municipal committment and ongoing maintenence
  • DCR will pay for repairs, then turnover to town
• Partial Removal
• Full Removal

DCR preference is full or partial removal, if there is no municipal interest.

Phase II investigation

If there is a failure, there could be loss of life and property damage downstream.

There are no owners to the reservoir parcels.

Repair to full height

Repair dike and spillway
$1.4 million

Partial Removal

Restoring river flow, no more reservoir
$2.5 million

DCR's preferred alternative

Full Removal

$3.3 million
There is little/no advantage to full removal

Hazard Potential

Lower Height Dam Alternative

changing slope of dam, construct new spillway. 7ft lower than existing, maintain current height of reservoir.

Ongoing Maintenance:

• inspections every 5 years, by professional engineer
• mowing
• town would take ownership and require public access through private parcels

DCR will fund repair or removal

Citizen Comments

• aquatic habitat would be damaged
  • State fish and game will address
• dam removal is generally beneficial to the watershed
• would natural ponds form, after dam removal?
• does the reservoir feed town water supply?
• is the State fear-mongering?
• what is best for wildlife, town water supply, ongoing costs, etc?
• what size rain event would lead to flooding?
  • ~16" of rain in a day?
• can state assist with funding for ongoing maintenance?
  • if lowering the dam is most cost-effective, inquire about state funding
• Is this a selectboard decision?
  • yes
  • purchasing land would happen at town meeting

What is the timeframe?

State will start permitting and design process immediately. Will take several years.