PUBLIC MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT AND NOTICE OF DRAFT REPORT AVAILABILITY
Draft Assabet River, Massachusetts - Sediment and Dam Removal Feasibility Study

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) announces the availability of the draft report, "Draft Assabet River, Massachusetts - Sediment and Dam Removal Feasibility Study", dated September 2009. This report was prepared for MassDEP by the New England District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the Corps Planning Assistance to States program.

Over the past several years MassDEP in conjunction with EPA and watershed stakeholders has been working to investigate and implement measures to improve water quality and the aquatic ecosystem of the Assabet River. Excess nutrients, particularly phosphorus, from both point and nonpoint sources have caused eutrophication of the river to the extent that it does not meet Class B water quality standards.  Problems that have resulted include the excessive growth of aquatic vegetation and significant variations in dissolved oxygen levels. To that end, a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for phosphorus was developed by MassDEP and approved by EPA in 2005 which requires reductions in the discharge of phosphorus from the four existing wastewater treatment plants and a 90 percent reduction in sediment phosphorus flux.

Dam removal and dredging are the two techniques that were investigated in this study to determine what role they play in decreasing the sediment phosphorus flux and how water quality and the aquatic habitat of the river may be affected. Scientific and engineering information on both of these techniques is presented so that informed decisions can be made to determine future action.

Copies of this report can be downloaded at the following website:

http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/projects/ma/assabetriver/assabetriver.htm

The draft report will also be available at the reference desk of the following libraries:

Maynard Public Library
77 Nason Street
Maynard, MA 01754

Town of Stow Library
380 Great Road
Stow, MA 01775-2127

Hudson Public library
3 Washington Street
Hudson, MA 01749-2485

Marlborough Library
35 West Main Street
Marlborough, MA 01752

Northborough Free Library
34 Main Street
Northborough, MA 01532

Westborough Public Library
55 West Main St.
Westborough, MA 01581

Two public informational meetings will be held to present the analyses and findings of the planning study as follows.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009
5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center, Salon E
181 Boston Post Road 
Marlborough, MA 01752

Thursday, November 19, 2009
5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Hale Middle School
55 Hartley Road
Stow, MA 01775

MassDEP will consider all comments on this draft report and it will be revised as appropriate. All comments must be submitted in writing, preferably in an electronic format, and must be received by December 21, 2009. Comments should be submitted to:

MassDEP - Division of Watershed Management
627 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608
Attention: Alice M. Rojko
E-mail: Alice.Rojko@massmail.state.ma.us

Further information on this project and the report can be obtained from:

Barbara Blumeris
Study Manager
Planning Branch - New England District
US Army Corps of Engineers
696 Virginia Road
Concord, MA 01742-2751
Email: Barbara.R.Blumeris@usace.army.mil
Telephone: 978-318-8737

Or

Alice Rojko
Watershed Planner
MassDEP - Division of Watershed Management
627 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608
E-mail: Alice.Rojko@massmail.state.ma.us
Telephone: 508-849-4001