On December 12, 2018 there was a public meeting summarizing the results of the Ipswich Mills Dam Removal Feasibility Study. The Town in conjunction with the Ipswich River Watershed Association and the Lead Consultant Horsley Witten Group held the public meeting in the Town building. The meeting was very well attended with over 70 people present. Members of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) were present to answer questions. The TAC team is comprised of representatives from the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration, the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration (DER), the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), EBSCO Publishing, the Town of Ipswich Department of Public Works, Conservation Commission, Historic Commission and Planning Department and Horsley Witten Group. The presentation covered why dam removal is studied, previous studies and results from the current feasibility study. Concerns over impacts to recreation, biodiversity, invasive species and the state of the river were raised. After the presentation, a dot voting activity took place where meeting attendees could weigh in on why they attended the meeting, what their greatest concerns were and what they would like more information about. The public input activity revealed that many attendees were interested in enhancing the ecological health of the river, generally in support of dam removal and would like more information on potential changes to the river upstream of the dam. No decision is being made currently regarding the Ipswich Mills Dam removal, yet the feasibility study did reveal that the next step for this project will be to secure funding for the following further investigations;
- Conduct further sediment probing and characterization in the impoundment
- Assessment of sediment undermining risks to retaining walls immediately upstream of dam
- Scour analyses at railroad bridge and along river bank near railroad
- Further subsurface investigation EBSCO interior
- Salinity measurement program
If you were unable to attend, the full presentation can be found here. In addition the full study documents will be available here early in the New Year.
You can see the a recent summary of our ongoing work on the Ipswich River’s main-stem dams here.
[blog_subscription_form title=”Subscribe For More River Updates”]
I am concerned about a proposed 40B development of 200 rental units at 20 Elm Street in North Reading. This property is alongside the Ipswich River in a residential area. It is also not far from the South Middleton Dam. I am sure the impact of this project will threaten the health of the river, the quality of the drinking water, wildlife and the efforts of the Ipswich River Watershed Association. Please contact [email protected] to voice your thoughts and concerns by January 7, 2019.