Press Release  Division of Ecological Restoration Announces Successful Emergency Removal of Dam in Shutesbury

SHUTESBURY — The Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration (DER), a division of the Department of Fish & Game, successfully completed the removal of a significant hazard dam in unsafe condition through an emergency order in the Town of Shutesbury. 

The Dudleyville Pond Dam was a privately owned structure in a state of severe disrepair. The dam was rated as a significant hazard by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation Office of Dam Safety (ODS) and posed a threat to downstream residents and infrastructure if it were to fail during a storm. With climate change making increased precipitation and extreme weather more common, swift removal of hazardous dams is necessary to protect public safety. The Dudleyville Pond Dam removal was made possible by many partners including the Connecticut River Conservancy, American Rivers, Stantec, and SumCo Eco-Contracting, and funded by DER, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Trout Unlimited, American Rivers, and the Connecticut River Salmon Association.

“This aging dam was a hazard for people and wildlife—for centuries this dam blocked native eastern brook trout and other coldwater species from reaching important upstream habitats,” said DFG Commissioner Tom O’Shea. “River restoration is critical for biodiversity and will help fish and wildlife adapt to rising stream temperatures associated with climate change.”

“Most dam removal projects take years to study, design, permit, and remove,” said DER Director Beth Lambert. “In this case, we didn’t have years. We applaud the quick action by the Town of Shutesbury, the Connecticut River Conservancy, American Rivers, Trout Unlimited, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Connecticut River Salmon Association, Stantec, and SumCo Eco-Contracting to authorize, engineer, and deconstruct this dam.” 

This project demonstrates the challenges many dam owners face and the power of partnerships in carrying out ecological restoration projects. Dating back to the 1800s, the dam was originally constructed to power a mill but has not been in use for many years. The property owners worked to maintain the dam for decades. However, like many private dam owners, they struggled to make the necessary upgrades to meet modern dam safety requirements.   

After a study by American Rivers and an investigation by DER in early 2024, it was found that the Dudleyville Pond Dam was an imminent public safety risk. The Town of Shutesbury’s Conservation Commission issued an emergency certification on July 29th to remove the dam. Working with the dam’s owner, partners and funders came together to quickly remove the dam, which was completed on August 28th. With dam removal, a free-flowing stream channel was restored where the pond used to be, providing immediate benefits of improved water quality and passage for important coldwater fish species like eastern brook trout. The project cost approximately $118,000 and was funded by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Connecticut River Conservancy, five chapters of Trout Unlimited (Squan-A-Tissit, Massachusetts and Rhode Island Council, Greater Boston, Pioneer Valley, and Nor’East), American Rivers, the Connecticut River Salmon Association, and DER through the Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs ResilientMass program.

“The emergency certification from the Conservation Commission allowed us to act quickly and remove this hazardous dam at an unprecedented pace and cost savings. Now not only is the community safer, but the ecological benefits of the dam’s removal are already underway,” said DER Dam Removal Program Manager Chris Hirsch. "A stream now flows where a pond used to be, a big change for those that have spent their life on this water. However, with the dam gone, the financial burden of the dam’s upkeep is gone too, and the community is better suited to deal with the impacts of climate change.”

There are currently more than 3,000 dams throughout Massachusetts, most of which are no longer used for their intended purpose and many are in disrepair. Dams block important passages for fish and negatively impact water quality. DER helps owners remove dams by providing technical and funding assistance. As part of the Department of Fish and Game’s newly released five-year strategic plan goals, DER aims to remove 11 more dams by 2030.  

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