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River Restoration Priority Projects
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Project Photos
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Blackstone River, Worcester Consolidated Street Railway (Mass Electric) Dam
Location: Blackstone River, Millbury
Project proponent: Blackstone Headwaters Coalition
Type of project: dam removal
Project partners: Mass Audubon, National Grid
Project phase: feasibility
Funding status: feasibility study partially funded
Project description: The goal of this project is to implement an alternative at the deteriorating Worcester Consolidated Street Railway Dam that enhances aquatic habitat as well as safe recreational paddling through this reach of the river. |
Worcester Consolidated Street Railway dam, Blackstone River
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Coles Brook Restoration
Location: Coles Brook, Washington
Project proponent: The Nature Conservancy
Type of project: aquatic and riparian restoration
Project partners: Westfield River Watershed Association, Westfield River Wild and Scenic Advisory Committee
Project phase: planning and design
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Coles Brook, Washington
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Eel River Headwaters Restoration
Location: Eel River, Plymouth
Project proponent: Town of Plymouth
Type of project: dam removal/coldwater habitat restoration/retired cranberry bog restoration
Project partners: NRCS, CZM/WRP, TNC, Eel River Watershed Association
Project phase: feasibility study complete; engineering designs and Atlantic White Cedar plant propagation will commence this spring.
Funding status: funded through engineering designs
Project description: The project will remove several small dams and restore a dynamically stable river channel and coldwater habitat through more than 60 acres of abandoned cranberry bogs. It involves the removal of earthen dams and dikes, the reestablishment of a floodplain, and restoration of an Atlantic White Cedar swamp. The project has the potential to restore the significant degradation through this section of the river. The benefits of this project include a restored stream channel, floodplain, wetland, and trout habitat, and water quality improvements.
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Eel River, Plymouth
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North Branch Hoosic River restoration
Location: North Branch Hoosic River, Clarksburg
Project proponent:
Hoosuck Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Type of project: habitat restoration
Project partners:
Cascade School Supplies of North Adams, Town of Clarksburg
Project phase: planning
Project description:
This habitat restoration project will examine the feasibility of removing the Briggsville Dam to improve habitat for trout and other coldwater species.
Restoration of the headwaters of the North Branch of the Hoosic provides an important opportunity for the continuity of habitat for species of concern.
Project Press Release
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Hewat dam, North Branch Hoosic River, Clarksburg
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South Branch Hoosic River restoration and Hoxie Brook Daylighting and Habitat Improvements
Location: Hoosic River/Hoxie Brook, Adams
Project proponent: Town of Adams
Type of project: stream daylighting/flood channel habitat improvements
Project partners: Hoosic River Watershed Association, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Army Corps of Engineers
Project phase: feasibility
Funding status: partial funding for feasibility
Project description: This project will investigate opportunities to daylight a portion of Hoxie Brook. A second component of the project will develop conceptual restoration alternatives for an ACOE study of potential opportunities for habitat restoration through modifying a flood control channel to improve aquatic habitat, aesthetics, and public access and enjoyment of these rivers.
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View looking downstream (north) of Hoxie Brook (left) and the Hoosic River South Branch (right), corseted in a concrete flood channel.
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West Branch Housatonic River, Tel-Electric (Mill St.) Dam
Location: West Branch Housatonic River, Pittsfield
Project proponent: City of Pittsfield
Type of project: dam removal
Project partners: Berkshire Regional Planning Commission
Project phase: feasibility
Funding status: funded through initial feasibility
Project description: This project will include an assessment to determine the feasibility and environmental benefits of removing the Tel Electric (Mill St.) Dam. Removal of the dam will open up over a hundred miles of stream continuity, extending to the main branch of the Housatonic River. This project is also being considered in tandem with improved public access and flood control to protect historic Wahconah Park.
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Tel-Electric dam, Pittsfield
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Little River Habitat Improvements
Location: Little River, Gloucester
Project proponent: City of Gloucester
Type of project: stream channel restoration
Project partners: Mass Audubon, NOAA, DMF
Project phase: feasibility
Funding status: funded through feasibility
Project description: The Little River runs one mile in length before draining into the Annisquam River in West Gloucester. The portion of the river needing restoration is adjacent to the city owned water filtration plant. Restoration opportunities include the removal and replacement of an antiquated concrete channel and sludge lagoon with a natural streambed. Multiple aquatic species stand to benefit from the restoration and a more natural stream configuration will greatly enhance the flood capacity and aesthetic conditions of the river. |
Littel River, West Gloucester |
Mill River habitat restoration
Location: Mill River, Taunton
Type of project: habitat restoration
Project proponent: Southeast Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD)
Project partners: American Rivers, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), The Nature Conservancy, Taunton River Watershed Alliance, The City of Taunton, Save the Bay, and Taunton River Wild & Scenic Stewardship Council
Project phase: feasibility study
Funding status: funded through feasibility
Project description: This project will investigate alternatives that would improve habitat and provide fish passage where dams currently exist. The project aims to expand habitat for river herring, American eel, and resident fish species.
2007 Project Press Release
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North Nashua River Habitat Improvements
Location: Fitchburg
Project proponent: City of Fitchburg
Type of Project: Flood channel naturalization and urban revitalization
Project Partners: Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority, ACOE
Project Phase: Feasibility study is complete; permitting underway and fundraising ongoing for implementation.
Funding Status: funded through feasibility
Project Description:
This project is a pilot in-stream restoration effort to improve habitat, river function and stability in this flood prone river reach near downtown Fitchburg. Currently the river flows through a highly altered and widen river channel; the current conditions impair habitat and aquatic species passage. This project will work within the constraints of this urban landscape to create a more natural river channel. |
North Nashua River
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Red Brook Habitat Restoration
Location: Red Brook, Wareham and Plymouth
Project proponent: MA/RI Trout Unlimited
Type of project: habitat restoration and dam removal
Project partners: The Trustees of Reservations, Trout Unlimited, American Rivers, NOAA, MassWildlife, Mass. Maritime, A.D. Makepeace
Project phase: feasibility and engineering designs
Funding status: funded through feasibility and designs
Project description: The Red Brook restoration removed a small dam in 2006 to improve habitat for “salter” brook trout and other aquatic species. The project developed a sediment management plan for sandy sediment coming from upstream sources and a restoration action plan. A feasibility study and engineering designs for three other small dams on the brook is currently underway.
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Robbins Dam, Red Brook, Wareham
Red Brook post dam removal, fall 2006
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Town Brook, Plymco and Off Billington Street Dams
Location: Town Brook, Plymouth
Project proponent: Town of Plymouth
Type of project: habitat restoration, fish passage, daylighting
Project partners: NOAA, DMF, American Rivers
Project phase: final design
Funding status: funded through final design
Project description: The Town of Plymouth and the Town Brook Partners (a partnership of local, state and federal agencies) are currently involved in a phased restoration program for the 1.5 mile long Town Brook and its aquatic habitat. To date such work has included stormwater improvements, fishway improvements, wetland construction, a partial dam breach and a dam removal. The current phase of the project will establish final design for the removal of two dams: the Off Billington Street Dam, a town owned structure, and the Plymco or Standish Mill Pond Dam, a privately owned structure.
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Green River Dams
Location: Greenfield
Project proponent: Connecticut River Watershed Council
Type of project: habitat restoration, fish passage,
Project partners: Town of Greenfield, American Rivers, USACE, USFWS, TNC, the Deerfield River Watershed Association
Project phase: Feasibility Study
Funding status: funded through feasibility study
Project description:
The Green River Habitat Restoration Project will remove the two furthest-downstream dams on the Green River in Greenfield , MA , and provide fish passage at the two upstream dams. When complete, the project will open up 94 miles of mainstem and tributary habitat for diadromous fish, including salmon.
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Shawsheen River Dams
Location: Andover
Project proponent: Town of Andover
Type of project: habitat restoration, fish passage
Project partners: Town of Andover, NOAA, DMF, American Rivers, USFWS, DFW, CWRP, the Center for Ecosystem Restoration.
Project phase: Feasibility Study
Funding status: funded through feasibility study
Project description:
The purpose of this project is to restore aquatic habitat, stream processes, and native river ecosystem functions and values, including migratory fish passage, to the Shawsheen River in Andover . The Shawsheen River is a tributary of the Merrimack River which flows roughly northeast along a 25 mile course, entering the Merrimack in North Andover . Specifically, removal of three dams in the Town of Andover is proposed – resulting in the complete removal of barriers along the mainstem river.
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Wapping Road Dam
Location: Jones River, Kingston
Project proponent: Jones River Watershed Association
Type of project: habitat restoration, fish passage
Project partners: Caton Connector Corporation, Town of Kingston, NOAA, DMF
Project phase: Feasibility Study
Funding status: funded through feasibility study
Project description:
This is a restoration project for the Jones River and its aquatic habitat. The current phase of the project will assess the feasibility of removing the dam downstream of Wapping Road and restoring the surrounding stream. The dam is privately owned. The current work will open an additional 3.7 miles for anadromous fish access to spawning. The project is also important for restoring habitat and connectivity for resident species. |
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Completed Projects
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Swift River Rock Structure Removal
Location: Swift River, Belchertown and Ware
Project proponent: Pioneer Valley Trout Unlimited
Type of project: stream restoration
Project phase: implementation
Funding status: fully funded through implementation
Project description: The project removed a rock structure to improve flows and expose riffle habitat in the coldwater Swift River south of the Quabbin Reservoir. The project was completed in July 2006.
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Swift River, Belchertown, spring 2006
Swift River post rock removal, June 2006
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Galloway Brook, Upper Cooks Canyon Dam Removal
Location: Galloway Brook, Barre
Project proponent: Mass Audubon
Type of project: dam removal
Project phase: monitoring
Funding status: implementation is fully funded
Project description: The Upper Cook’s Canyon Dam was located within the Mass Audubon’s Cook’s Canyon Wildlife Sanctuary in Barre. The dam was located on Galloway Brook, a perennial stream, and was owned by Mass Audubon. The reestablishment of unobstructed flow of Galloway Brook expands and enhances habitat for fresh water fish including brook trout, blacknose dace, and tessellated darter. Other benefits include riparian corridor enhancement, flood control and water quality improvement. The boards on the dams were removed several years ago and the completed project removed the remainder of the structure and reestablished natural bank conditions.
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Upper Cooks Canyon Dam, Barre
 Galloway Brook, post dam removal, June 2006
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Page last updated May 2007 |
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