[MassHistPres] Dam removal

[arethusa]

Hi, a little more about the dam in Rochester. It has gotten at least a 10 year reprieve, but the entity that was going to remove it ( a respected conservation organization) still has rights to get it back if the cranberry grower cannot find/create another suitable water source. 

This dam was the 2nd oldest and first geographically of 9 on the Sippican River. It was a rubble stone with a road over the top. Several concrete spillways had been added over the years for water control use by bogs. It was those concrete structures that had failed triggering a state emergency situation. Originally it was a mill site as were all the others up stream. Now almost all are repurposed and related to the cranberry industry. At the time the "dam" dam was one of the hottest topics in years around here. There were strong feelings for and against removal and many people who were both historically and conversationally motivated (like me) were conflicted.

As part of the keeping of the dam, the bog owner together with the Con Comm in town got a Alaskan Pass fish ladder installed to allow the River Herring to migrate up river so they can spawn in Hathaway Pond (name of the impounded water) and continue up river, up another Alaskan fish ladder that was installed by Con Comm last year at Leonards Pond Mill and Dam and spawn there. At that location there is an intact mill building on cranberry property that the Rochester Historic Commission, TTOR and the owner are beginning to work on getting open as part of the Iron Ore trail that is being created. (Rochester and surrounding towns were the site of a great deal of bog iron harvested from local ponds and swamps)

By the way, Eastover Farms location of the second dam and mill pond, a fabulous property co saved by the Town of Rochester, TTOR, Rochester Land Trust, Sippican Land Trust, plus others, is a wonderful place to visit. Check it out on TTOR website and Town of Rochester Web site for the walking guide.

Laurene Gerrior
Rochester Conservation Commission and Rochester Historical Commission (hey, it's a small town!)

1098 Walnut Plain Road
Rochester, MA 02770
arethusa at comcast.net
508-763-4223



"Growing your own food is like printing your own money." ~Ron Finley 























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