Overview
There are more than 3,000 dams in Massachusetts. Few of them still serve their original purpose, and many are in poor condition. Dams artificially hold back water and change the way a river functions. They trap sediment and create stagnant conditions with warmer water and lower dissolved oxygen than the rest of the river system. Dams also block the movement of fish and invertebrates that need to access different areas of the watershed and different habitats during their life cycle. There is a growing movement throughout the state to remove aging dams that have outlived their original purpose.
The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) is planning to remove the Patrill Hollow Dam, which it owns, to fulfill the following goals:
- Remove aging infrastructure to reduce safety risks for users of the Muddy Brook Wildlife Management Area and reduce potential for flooding,
- Improve water quality and restore the natural river flow,
- Improve aquatic habitats for fish and other aquatic life,
- Improve outdoor recreation opportunities within the surrounding Muddy Brook Wildlife Management Area also owned and managed by MassWildlife, and
- Eliminate the costs associated with ongoing repairs and maintenance.
The project is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and will be carried out in partnership with multiple state and federal agencies.
Project summary
Quick Facts
- Watershed: Chicopee River
- Project Location: Hardwick, MA (see location)
- Project timeline: Construction will begin in 2025 and will be completed by 2026
The Patrill Hollow Dam in Hardwick, MA is a 13-foot high, 190-foot long earthen embankment structure that impounds Muddy Brook and has a primary and an auxiliary concrete spillway. The dam is situated within the 1,937-acre Muddy Brook Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The dam’s impoundment volume is approximately 50 acre-feet of water. The dam is not a large and does not pose significant risk to downstream areas; however, its poor condition must be addressed.
The proposed project will remove the full vertical extent of the dam and will restore the area to resemble conditions prior to the dam being built. New river and wetlands habitat will be created and Muddy Brook will once again flow without obstruction. Construction will be conducted to avoid adverse impacts to the high quality wildlife habitat in the Muddy Brook WMA.
Fish populations
Patrill Hollow Pond Dam holds back water in Muddy Brook, which is a tributary to the Ware River. The dam removal is expected to decrease stream temperature and restore natural stream flow and habitat. Many types of fish will benefit from the removal project.
Muddy Brook is a Coldwater Fishery Resource (CFR) and contains a reproducing population of eastern brook trout. Common shiner, tessellated darter, blacknose dace, and creek chubsucker rely on flowing water and will likely benefit from the dam removal. These species have been prioritized as Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the Massachusetts Wildlife Action Plan.
MEPA review
This project is being designed as an Ecological Restoration Project, which means the primary purpose is to restore or otherwise improve the natural capacity of the environment. The project review process will start with the filing of a Notice of Ecological Restoration Project form with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office. The state-level MEPA process allows for coordinated state-agency review of projects and meaningful opportunities for public comment.
The project will also be reviewed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Town of Hardwick Conservation Commission.
Contact
Questions about this project?
Contact Todd Olanyk, MassWildlife's Central District Supervisor, at todd.olanyk@mass.gov or 508-835-3607.