The BEAT News March 5, 2007

Riverways projects in the Berkshires

The Riverways Program in the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game is working on several Berkshire County river projects to restore stream continuity and improve instream habitat. They have just completed the removal of two dams on Yokum Brook in Becket, and are studying

  • the restoration of the Hoosic River and “daylighting” and habitat improvements along Hoxie Brook in Adams
  • the removal of the Tel-Electric Dam on the West Branch of the Housatonic River in Pittsfield (selected in 2005 – check BEAT’s Tel-Electric page)
  • restoration of the high quality, cold headwater stream of the North Branch of the Hoosic River in Clarksburg (one of two projects selected in 2007)

North Branch of the Hoosic River

The Hoosuck Trout Unlimited chapter is the lead proponent to restore the North Branch of the Hoosic River. This habitat restoration project will examine the feasibility of removing the Hewat Dam to improve habitat for trout and other coldwater species. Hewat Dam is owned by Cascade School Supplies of North Adams. Riverways works with engineering and habitat specialists to assess habitat restoration approaches and will carefully consider public safety and infrastructure protection when considering alternatives. Restoring the North Branch Hoosic will provide improved fishing opportunities and the aesthetics of a healthy free-flowing river.

Restoration of the headwaters of the North Branch of the Hoosic provides an important opportunity for the continuity of habitat for species of concern. Dams block the movement and migration of fish and impairing water quality by trapping sediment and artificially warming water temperatures. Hundreds of dams have been removed around the country to restore habitat, eliminate owner expense and liability, and improve public safety.

Joe Overlock, local Trout Unlimited chapter president, is extremely excited about the project being selected, “This is a once in a lifetime chance to restore the natural beauty of the river while creating tremendous angling opportunities for local residents.” “This is a shot in the arm for the newly re-formed Hoosuc TU Chapter” said Overlock.

Pittsfield’s Tel-Electric Dam

Pittsfield’s Tel-Electric Dam is an 87-year-old dam that spans the west branch of the Housatonic River behind the Eagle Clock Tower building upstream of the Mill Street bridge.

Pittsfield’s Director of Community Services James McGrath told the Pittsfield City Council that removing or lowering the Mill Street dam is one of the measures that the city is considering to improve the environment around Wahconah Park. The dam is located roughly two miles from 3,100-seat Wahconah Park, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the summer of 2005. Wahconah Park is located within the flood plain of the river’s western branch. McGrath said the cost could be as much as $2 million dollars to remove or lower the dam.

However, Tim Purington, a river restoration planner with Riverways, said the cost estimates for the dam are “somewhat broad” because the amount of sediment located behind the structure hasn’t been determined yet. The more sediment located behind a dam, the more expensive it is to remove the structure, he said. As an example, Purinton said removing Ballou Dam in Becket, which contained little sediment, cost only $250,000.

BEAT supports the removal of this dam to restore river continuity. We would point out that the sediment removal behind Pittsfield’s dam could be especially expensive and time consuming because it likely contains PCBs, the amount and extent of which will have to be determined. While BEAT believes that the General Electric Company should bear the cost of testing and removal, the time factor will be annoying.

BEAT suggests that measures for flood control at Wahconah Park should include removal of the old landfill at the King Street Dump and its restoration to a functional wetland.

The preliminary feasibility study has been completed, Purinton said, but a more detailed report, along with a scour analysis, has yet to be done. The second feasibility study also contains a public input phase, that will be accomplished by the scheduling of public hearings, he added. Purinton said that dam removal projects can often take years to complete. But he said they only take a “couple of years” once the funding pieces and permits are in place.

See BEAT’s Tel-Electric webpage for more plus aerial photo and topographic map of the site.

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Meeting with Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs postponed again to April 13

Secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA), Ian Bowles will be holding a “listening session” on April 13 at 10:30 am at the Department of Conservation and Recreation offices at South Mountain, 740 South St., Pittsfield.

For a brief biography of Secretary Bowles see http://www.mass.gov/envir/secretarysbio.htmv

You can compare the Governor’s proposed budget for EOEEA with the Environmental League of Massachusetts “Green Budget” (pdf) for yourself.

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Governor’s Parks Budget Disappoints

Governor Deval Patrick failed to fund the state’s parks at a level he promised during his campaign. The Governor pledged an additional $10 million in his first year in office to help fund state parks, but instead, his budget released last week included just an additional $740,000, according to an analysis by environmental groups including the Conservation and Recreation Campaign.

“We understand the governor had a difficult budget this year, but we are disappointed he is not fulfilling his commitment,” said Thomas Philbin, associate director of the Conservation and Recreation Campaign. “It is critically important to the vitality of the state to have the quality of life and amenities these parks provide.”

Massachusetts’ park system is the sixth largest in the nation, yet one of the most under funded. Governing magazine last year ranked Massachusetts 48th in per capita spending on parks. The system also has $1.2 billion maintenance backlog.

According to the Conservation and Recreation Campaign’s website:

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts manages more than 450,000 acres of parks and open land throughout the state, from the Boston Harbor Islands to Pittsfield State Forest in the Berkshires. But many of these assets are suffering from neglect and understaffing that, in some cases, have led to visible decay and even environmental damage. Consider this:

    • The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Department of Fish and Game have had their budgets cut by more than 30% since 2001.

 

    • Last in the United States in state and local spending on on park and recreation as % of personal income. 48th in per capita spending.

 

    • Only 5 Rangers outside of metro Boston to patrol 320,000 acres.

 

    • Half of Massachusetts state park campgrounds are unstaffed over night.

 

    • A state forest of 10,000 acres with a swimming beach, hundreds of campsites, and over half a million visitors per year has only two full-time employees.

 

  • Spending on the maintenance of buildings, infrastructure, and landscapes within state parkland has been deferred until there is now an estimated $1.2 billion backlog of major capital repairs.
  • When ex-Massachusetts residents were asked what they missed most about Massachusetts, 25 percent of those polled said family, while 22 percent said the state’s natural surroundings. Eight percent said they missed cultural outings to museums and theaters, and 8 percent said they missed Boston

Ian Bowles, the new Secretary of the newly created Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA), believes he can find savings from the merger (under the Romney administration) of the Department of Environmental Management and the Metropolitan District Commission that were never fully realized.

BEAT is concerned by the new office of Energy AND Environment. We believe in a system of checks and balances. All projects deserve clear and consistent review under the environmental laws and regulations.

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Governor petitions to modify special permit in Richmond

RICHMOND Zoning Board of Appeals will conduct a public hearing, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 40A of the Massachusetts General Laws and Section 6.3 of the Zoning Bylaw, on the petition to modify a previously issued special permit of Deval L. Patrick and Diane B. Patrick to construct a two family home at 245 Furnace Rd., Assessors Map 106, Lot 19. The hearing will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 22, 2007, at Town Hall, 1529 State Rd.

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