The Challenge
The Commonwealth has nearly 3,000 dams across the state, most of which no longer serve the purpose they originally intended. Outdated, obsolete dams continue to degrade the Commonwealth’s rivers and streams and present flood hazards and other safety risks to local communities. The effects of climate change, including rising temperature and frequency of severe storms, continue to increase the environmental impacts and community hazards associated with these dams. Removal of these dams eliminates the risk of a catastrophic failure, and reduces flooding upstream, as most dams in Massachusetts are not operated for flood control.
Project Scope
DER’s Dam Removal Program worked with pre-qualified engineering firms to complete feasibility studies and preliminary designs for seven high priority dam removals (5 funded by SHMCAP and 2 funded by DER capital funds), with prioritization targeting high hazard and significant hazard dams. This project built on a similar effort completed by DER in FY22. This work provides a technical basis for dam removals to enter the project development pipeline and pursue future work, including permit-level design and permitting. It also sets a foundation for fundraising to support final design and construction.
For FY23/FY24, DER focused on seven sites to complete a more comprehensive hydrologic and hydraulic modeling analysis, complete the RMAT design tool assessment as part of the studies, and perform additional sediment sampling to better inform design and cost estimating. Dam removal projects with strong ecological value and climate resilience benefits were selected from a diversity of locations and settings across Massachusetts. Consideration to proximity of the sites to Environmental Justice block groups was also included in the selection process. Completion of these feasibility studies and preliminary designs increases the quantity and quality of municipal dam removal projects seeking support through the MVP Program and other funding opportunities. This work also increases the speed at which these climate resiliency projects are developed and implemented.
DER launched a Request for Responses (RFR) in September 2023, seeking dams to accept as sites for preliminary design. Prior to releasing the RFR, DER conducted outreach to dam owners, municipalities, watershed organizations, other NGOs and state and federal agencies to spread the word about this opportunity. The RFR was also sent directly to every municipality with a COMMBUYS account. In late August of 2023, DER closed a bid solicitation for pre-qualified engineering firms to conduct the studies and develop preliminary designs and selected 4 firms to carry out the work. Assessment and design work was carried out for the remainder of FY24 and was completed by June 30, 2024.
Allowing rivers to reconnect hydrologically, and utilize their floodplains, makes for healthier, colder, more resilient streams. Removal of significant and high hazard dams, especially ones that are no longer used or maintained, eliminates the risk of a catastrophic dam failure and associated flooding, which is becoming increasingly more likely as dams continue to deteriorate and climate change brings more intense and frequent storms. Preparing preliminary designs for these seven high priority dam sites will help their respective communities advance dam removal projects as one approach to increasing climate resiliency and adapting to climate change.
Metrics
The number of applications DER received is an indicator of the level of interest from communities in advancing dam removal projects. The number of projects that advance to later phases of design and apply to DER’s Priority Projects Program, MVP, or other funding opportunities will be a good indicator of how well this work is building the pipeline of dam removal projects. The number of dam removal projects completed in the years to come will ultimately demonstrate success.
Results
DER received 15 site applications in total and was able to award 7 sites. The awarded sites were Dudleyville Dam in Shutesbury, Squanacook River Dam in Groton/Shirley, Bates Power Reservoir Dam in Phillipston, Lunden Pond Dam in Monson, Mechanics Pond Dam in Attleboro, Colrain Lower Reservoir Dam in Colrain, and Cochichewick River Dam in North Andover. DER worked with 4 consulting firms to gather and synthesize information to inform the dam owner of the opportunities and potential constraints associated with the removal of the dam. This included site data collection such as a topographic and bathymetric survey of the dam and impoundment and sediment sampling, preliminary hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, developing preliminary designs and an opinion of probable cost for dam removal and preparing a report outlining the findings of the study, permitting requirements and recommendations for next steps.
Best Practices and Lessons Learned
During outreach prior to the release of the current RFR for dam removal sites, DER observed significantly more interest in dam removal from towns and individual dam owners than in previous years. The timing of outreach and the RFR release coincided with multiple intense precipitation events, which caused infrastructure damage across the Commonwealth. This may have contributed to increased interest.
Project Alignment with SHMCAP and ResilientMass Plan Priority Actions
This project addresses the following DER action in the 2018 SHMCAP plan:
- Remove Municipal and Other Dams Statewide - Remove unwanted, obsolete municipal and other dams to reduce public hazards, improve ecological health, and increase the climate resilience of human and natural communities.
This project addresses the DER action 22d in the 2023 ResilientMass plan:
- Municipal and other dam removals Year 1: feeding the project pipeline for strong ecological value and climate resilience benefits.
Further Action
DER intends to use FY25 ResilientMass Funding to support another round of preliminary design studies for additional sites and communities. Continuing this work will expand the number of sites that are equipped with preliminary results that will allow them to pursue further funding to ultimately remove vulnerable dams, increase ecological connectivity and reduce flood hazards.
Additional Information and Resources
During the Spring 2024 Dam Removal Preliminary Design studies, DER shared a video of a site visit in Monson, MA to social media (including Twitter and Instagram). The Instagram Post has been the highest reaching post of 2024 as of July 2024 (1,936 plays, reaching 1,337 accounts, and actively engaged by 70 people. A summary of the work was also included in DER’s Spring 2024 Ebb & Flow Newsletter.