[MassHistPres] historic dam removal

[Mike Potaski]

Caleb et el:

Some years ago the owner of the Riverdale Mill in the Riverdale village in Northbridge (MA) added a generator in the mill race that runs through the structure. They generate power that helps with their arc welding processes.

Some years ago the Uxbridge Housing Association considered but rejected the idea of restoring a hydro-power capability to the historic Crown and Eagle Mill which is now a housing complex.

Uxbridge has used Municipal Vulnerability Program grant funding to identify problematic dams and culverts for restoration or removal. Those so identified are now being addressed.

Michael Potaski
Uxbridge Historic Commission
________________________________
From: MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> on behalf of Caleb Estabrooks via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2023 9:18 AM
To: Dennis De Witt <abtdewitt at rcn.com>
Cc: MHC MHC listserve <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] historic dam removal

I'm not sure if any of the smaller historic dams have been seriously considered for hydro power, but the power output would be pretty low so it would be difficult to justify the financial cost of installing and maintaining the hydro plant. I did some quick calculations for a dam on the Third Herring Brook that was removed in Hanover/Norwell MA a few years ago: what would probably be a 2+ million dollar project might produce enough power for 40 homes on average (more in the winter, less in the summer drought).

Also, rebuilding a historic dam for power production would most likely destroy most of the historic features of the dam itself, although the retaining pond would be preserved.

Regards,
Caleb Estabrooks

Hanover Historical Commission

On Thu, Feb 23, 2023 at 8:38 AM Dennis De Witt via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu<mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>> wrote:
Speaking of GREEN, has anyone explored the possibility of using the dam for its original purpose, to produce GREEN power, using a modern low head turbine?

Dennis De Witt
Brookline

On Feb 22, 2023, at 10:05 PM, Alicia Primer via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu<mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>> wrote:

Judy has a great memory. The dam restoration project at 39 Crescent Street was Weston’s very first CPA project. And privately held.

ALICIA PRIMER via iPhone
Weston: 781-899-5597
Cell: 781-771-9510
Groton Long Point: 860-536-0035

“The greenest building is the one already built.” Carl Elefante




ALICIA PRIMER via iPhone
Weston: 781-899-5597
Cell: 781-771-9510
Groton Long Point: 860-536-0035

“The greenest building is the one already built.” Carl Elefante





________________________________
From: MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu<mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu>> on behalf of Judy Markland via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu<mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>>
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2023 12:50:34 PM
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu<mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu<mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>>
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] historic dam removal


Many years ago Weston used CPA funds to restore an historic dam on private property.  It was a much smaller project than this appears to be, but that is one possible source of funding for those communities that have adopted the CPA.

Judy Markland, Whately Historical Commission

On 2/22/2023 10:07 AM, Joanna via MassHistPres wrote:

Has anyone had experience with a privately owned dam in a historic district?  The State is pushing hard for the removal of the 150-year-old mill dam in Ballardvale, Andover.  The dam is owned 50/50 by the abutters and, while one owner doesn't want the dam removed, neither owner wants to cover the costs of upgrading or maintaining the dam.  The State is requiring environmental impact reports, fish ladders and the like.

The dam creates a mill pond that is perhaps the most iconic landscape in Andover.  I think many would feel it would be tragic if the mill pond were to disappear.  Two other dams in Andover were removed years back with plenty of fed/state funding.  One of those dams also had created a pretty mill pond which is now left a marshy swamp filled with phragmites.

Looking for advice.

Joanna Reck
Chair
Ballardvale Historic District
Andover

https://www.boston.com/uncategorized/noprimarytagmatch/2012/09/13/shawsheen-river-dam-removal-plan-has-supporters-detractors-in-andover/<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.boston.com%2Funcategorized%2Fnoprimarytagmatch%2F2012%2F09%2F13%2Fshawsheen-river-dam-removal-plan-has-supporters-detractors-in-andover%2F&data=05%7C01%7C%7Ca0e78c3eff4b403b9c5e08db15b091b8%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638127620335783799%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Kh%2BjEJl1sJT2c6VmHJCXNhag1Sq3w1Y%2B%2BDkERffaj8M%3D&reserved=0>
https://www.eagletribune.com/news/funding-okd-to-demolish-2-dams-on-shawsheen-river/article_615ab03d-a336-5982-bdbd-c2575636bf42.html<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eagletribune.com%2Fnews%2Ffunding-okd-to-demolish-2-dams-on-shawsheen-river%2Farticle_615ab03d-a336-5982-bdbd-c2575636bf42.html&data=05%7C01%7C%7Ca0e78c3eff4b403b9c5e08db15b091b8%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638127620335783799%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=R41aIFarJrsUefEazm5CgKWPF4CaeCX8uwSGjy1kTP0%3D&reserved=0>
https://andoverma.gov/655/Shawsheen-River-Dam-Removals<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fandoverma.gov%2F655%2FShawsheen-River-Dam-Removals&data=05%7C01%7C%7Ca0e78c3eff4b403b9c5e08db15b091b8%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638127620335783799%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=7Y6tDvEr6cI7IpGXem10kVfHgkTmrUEAxfNQbrNcYRo%3D&reserved=0>

<AndoverMA_BallardvaleMillPond.jpg>




_______________________________________________
MassHistPres mailing list
MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu<mailto:MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu>
https://mailman.cs.umb.edu/listinfo/masshistpres<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmailman.cs.umb.edu%2Flistinfo%2Fmasshistpres&data=05%7C01%7C%7Ca0e78c3eff4b403b9c5e08db15b091b8%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638127620335940025%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ptYT1XbyUu%2BK5eOZpvD2uL6AhBDWL0E%2FWXT6pnk6ekM%3D&reserved=0>


[https://s-install.avcdn.net/ipm/preview/icons/icon-envelope-tick-green-avg-v1.png]<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.avg.com%2Femail-signature%3Futm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dlink%26utm_campaign%3Dsig-email%26utm_content%3Demailclient&data=05%7C01%7C%7Ca0e78c3eff4b403b9c5e08db15b091b8%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638127620335940025%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3REemCjHCPBrcFyR2lYr37fmSF9Vfl5xNMeFTVKBcVk%3D&reserved=0>        Virus-free.www.avg.com<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.avg.com%2Femail-signature%3Futm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dlink%26utm_campaign%3Dsig-email%26utm_content%3Demailclient&data=05%7C01%7C%7Ca0e78c3eff4b403b9c5e08db15b091b8%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638127620335940025%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3REemCjHCPBrcFyR2lYr37fmSF9Vfl5xNMeFTVKBcVk%3D&reserved=0>
_______________________________________________
MassHistPres mailing list
MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu<mailto:MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu>
https://mailman.cs.umb.edu/listinfo/masshistpres<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmailman.cs.umb.edu%2Flistinfo%2Fmasshistpres&data=05%7C01%7C%7Ca0e78c3eff4b403b9c5e08db15b091b8%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638127620335940025%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ptYT1XbyUu%2BK5eOZpvD2uL6AhBDWL0E%2FWXT6pnk6ekM%3D&reserved=0>

_______________________________________________
MassHistPres mailing list
MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu<mailto:MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu>
https://mailman.cs.umb.edu/listinfo/masshistpres<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmailman.cs.umb.edu%2Flistinfo%2Fmasshistpres&data=05%7C01%7C%7Ca0e78c3eff4b403b9c5e08db15b091b8%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638127620335940025%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ptYT1XbyUu%2BK5eOZpvD2uL6AhBDWL0E%2FWXT6pnk6ekM%3D&reserved=0>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/pipermail/masshistpres/attachments/20230224/c1ef64b0/attachment-0001.html>