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River Restoration
Project Name: Town Brook Restoration and Dam Removals
The Town Brook restoration has taken an ecosystem-based approach to restoring the functional values and anadromous fish runs of historic Town Brook.
Site Location and Description:
Town Brook empties into Plymouth Harbor near Plymouth Rock, and has significant historic resources. It is the location of the nation’s first fish ladder and has five major obstructions to fish passage.
| Subwatershed Problems: |
Proposed Solutions: |
| Weir at Water Street Bridge blocks tidal flow into lower Town Brook limiting smelt spawning and movement of other anadromous species |
Lower the weir and stream bed, create a natural stream bank in Brewster Park and create an instream gravel bar (completed in 2005) |
| A culvert under Newfield Street covers the brook downstream of Jenny Gristmill, an historic mill site |
Daylight the brook below Newfield Street Dam |
| Anadromous fish are blocked by five upstream dams |
Rebuild the fishladder at Jenny Gristmill and remove the Billington Street dam (completed in 2002) |
| Plymco Dam is failing and creating a safety hazard due to roadway erosion and collapse |
Investigate options to restore natural channel and improve fish passage |
| Off Billington Street Dam is a barrier to fish passage |
Investigate options to restore natural channel and improve fish passage |
Community Involvement and Partners:
The Town of Plymouth owned the Billington Street Dam and maintains the weir at Water Street and Brewster Gardens. The following agencies have provided technical assistance and/or funds to the Town Brook restoration:
Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Watershed Initiative; Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries; Riverways Program; Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management; National Marine Fisheries Service; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Natural Resources Conservation Service; National Fish and Wildlife Foundation/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; American Rivers; NOAA
Status:
The restoration project has involved the lowering of the weir at Water Street to allow for greater tidal flushing and smelt spawning, and creation of a natural stream bank and gravel bar. Upstream, an Alaskan Steep-Pass fish ladder was installed at Newfield Street, and the Billington Street Dam was removed. Current feasibility studies will examine daylighting the brook at Newfield Street and improving fish passage through the Plymco and Off Billington Street Dams.
Project Needs:
Improved passage through the Plymco and Off Billington Street Dams.
Rebuilt fish ladder at Jenny Grist Mill
Page last updated November 2006
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