North Branch of the Hoosic River Restoration through Dam Removal
Project Description
American Rivers and a diversity of committed partners seek to restore multiple aquatic species, including two state listed species in the North Branch of the Hoosic River's headwaters through removal of the Briggsville Dam in Clarksburg, Massachusetts. The project directly supports the state's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy.
Project Map
County: Berkshire County, MA
Project Sites
- Briggsville Dam
Goals and Targets
Primary Motivations:
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Public Benefit
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Conservation Mission
Primary Goals:
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Complete dam removal in a timely manner.
Progress: We are on schedule to construct the Briggsville Dam removal in late summer 2009. Our engineering consultant, Fuss & O’Neill, is currently completing final design plans based on extensive review by the project partners. We have begun the permitting process based on their preliminary design plans for a number of required permits, including the MA Environmental Policy Act review, MA Endangered Species Act review, and MA Chapter 91 Public Waterfront Act review. Once the final design is completed, we will submit the remaining permit applications for the MA Wetlands Protection Act, Dam Safety permit, and federal Army Corps permit. -
Provide education and outreach throughout the project.
Progress: The project has continued to receive positive press. In addition, we are planning a final public hearing on the project this Spring, once the final design is completed. -
Protect surrounding infrastructure.
Progress: Because of concerns about stability of an upstream bridge, we have been deliberate in our design process. In January 2009, we completed a peer review assessment of our engineer’s bridge stabilization measures and have agreed upon an effective bridge protection approach as a result of that process. The dam removal itself is already designed, and completing a final design for the bridge protection is the final component of the overall design. -
Restore habitat for species of concern.
Progress: Our final engineering design plan provides ecosystem-based habitat for species of concern in the North Branch of the Hoosic River: longnose sucker, Eastern brook trout, slimy sculpin, and ocellated darner. Our pre-monitoring fish survey identified a range of coldwater species in the surrounding river, including significant numbers of the state-listed longnose sucker, which will benefit by restoring the free-flowing river and natural streambed substrate. -
Create a regional precedent for dam removal.
Progress: Along with establishing a big picture precedent for dam removals helping state-listed species, the project is also establishing a precedent for appropriate techniques for infrastructure protection. Our final bridge protection approach will fully protect the bridge while also allowing for habitat improvements. Our engineer’s initial plan was to put a wall under the stream directly downstream of the bridge to prevent streambed changes from affecting the bridge abutments. However, that wall could have become a new fish passage barrier over time. Our new approach, that we hope will be precedent-setting, is to focus the bridge protection measures on the bridge itself, rather than on the streambed.
Consistent With Plans:
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State Wildlife Action Plan
Targeted Habitats:
- Aquatic
- Rivers and Streams
- Human Habitats
- Urban and Residential
- Rural Residential (Low Intensity Developed)
Targeted Species:
No targeted species were identified for this project.
Conservation Actions
Action | Status | Start Year | End Year |
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Improve fish passage | In Progress | 2007 | 2009 |
Improve in-stream fish habitat | In Progress | 2007 | 2009 |
Outcomes
Is the success of this project's actions being monitored? YesMonitoring Activities
The project is being monitored through pre and post fish species surveys.