Support the Talbot Mills Dam Removal

November 21, 2025

SUPPORT THE TALBOT MILLS DAM REMOVAL

The Talbot Mills Dam represents just a brief chapter in the long-layered history of the Concord River. While a dam has been present for a few hundred years, the river—and the Indigenous peoples who relied on its fish, floodplains, and clean water—have been here for thousands of years before colonization.

Removing the dam is not erasing history; it is restoring the river to a more natural and historically accurate state while honoring a much deeper cultural legacy. This includes honoring the deeper legacy of Indigenous stewardship and the ecological health that sustained it for generations.

The project also acknowledges the industrial-era history of the dam. Its significance is being addressed through the federal Section 106 historic review process, which ensures that any impacts to historic resources are documented and thoughtfully considered.

The project is now moving through an important public review process, and your voice is needed

- The Billerica Historic Districts Commission recently denied the Talbot Mills Dam Removal project, despite the project team’s well-supported request for either: a Certificate of Hardship, acknowledging that maintaining the dam is not economically viable, or
- a Certificate of Non-Applicability, since industrial structures like this dam do not fall within the intended scope of Historic District regulations—which typically apply to architectural elements such as windows, siding, or paint colors on buildings.

This denial has been appealed and is now under review by the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments (NMCOG). A public hearing for the appeal will be held on Monday, December 1, 2025, at 6:30 PM via Zoom, and public comments in support of the project will be critical.

Additional details about the arguments made in the appeal can be found here.

Upcoming Hearing:

Historic District Commission Appeal Hearing

Monday, December 1, 2025, at 6:30 PM
Hosted virtually on Zoom by the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments
Meeting details and materials available here

How to Show Your Support

Speak during the public comment period at the virtual hearing
Send written comments in support of dam removal to Jennifer Raitt at jraitt@nmcog.org

What to Include in Your Comment:

When commenting, you may wish to highlight:

The importance of restoring Indigenous landscapes and history
The need to consider all historic resources, not just the relatively short industrial-era history of the dam
The Billerica Historic Districts Commission neglected to review the project within their bylaws and review standards
The project is eligible for either a Certificate of Hardship or a Certificate of Non- Applicability
Your own personal reasoning for why you support removal of the dam and how it affects you and your community

Don’t have time to draft your email? Don’t worry; we have you covered; copy and paste the message below into your email.

Just click the button below, copy the text, add your name, and share why you support the Talbot Mills Dam Removal Project.

TAKE ACTION

Sample Email to Send

Subject: Support for the Talbot Mills Dam Removal

Dear Jennifer Raitt,

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Appeal of Billerica Historic District Commission Denial of Application for Talbot Dam Removal. I support the removal of the Talbot Mills Dam and the restoration of this culturally significant section of the Concord River.

As someone who [lives near / paddles on / cares deeply about] the Concord River, I believe this is a critical opportunity to restore the river to a more historically accurate state and reconnect it to its deeper history that long predates the dam.

For thousands of years, the river sustained Indigenous communities whose presence and stewardship shaped this region. Restoring natural river flow is not just an ecological repair; it is also a step toward preserving, honoring, and acknowledging this deeper legacy.

I support the appeal for the following reasons:

Respect for historic and cultural Resources

I urge the reviewing bodies to consider the full scope of the river’s history—not just the industrial-era history of the past few hundred years, but the longstanding and ongoing presence of Indigenous peoples and the ecological history of the river itself, which has been in existence for thousands of years. This project offers an opportunity to recognize and protect those historic and cultural values while restoring the natural landscape.

The project was incorrectly reviewed

While the project team provided significant evidence for why the project should be approved either by a Certificate of Hardship or Certificate of Non-Applicability, the Billerica Historic Districts Commission denied the project with little to no explanation. One member even acknowledged that economic hardship exists, but disregarded it. I expect our regulatory authorities and commissions to make decisions based on facts, regulations, and review standards, not based on personal opinions.

The project provides an opportunity to tell the full history of the site

The purpose of the Historic Preservation Act is to “promote the educational, cultural, economic and general welfare of the public through the preservation and protection of the distinctive characteristics of … places significant in the history of the commonwealth…” and the dam removal project achieves exactly that. The project will add educational signage and other aspects of historic preservation to the site to tell not only the short industrial history of the dam, but also the indigenous history of the area. It provides an opportunity to uncover artifacts currently buried under the impoundment, including an older version of the dam. The project is an opportunity to promote the educational and cultural welfare of the public beyond and including the dam’s short industrial history.

Please support the dam’s removal and be a part of showcasing the full history of the Concord River.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your Town]

Learn More:

Talbot Mills Dam Removal Project
All meeting materials related to the hearing including the project team’s application and the HDC’s descision are on the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments website

Every letter and every comment helps move this restoration forward—for the river, for the communities it flows through, and for generations to come.

River Log

~30%

of the SuAsCo rivers watershed is wetlands, crucial for wildlife habitat and water quality

~30%

of water samples in the SuAsCo rivers watershed contain PFAS, leading to increased monitoring and remediation by local authorities and environmental groups

~70%

of dams in the SuAsCo watershed are over a century old, requiring extensive upkeep and presenting obstacles to river restoration and fish passage

>40%

of the land within the watershed is publicly accessible, offering recreational opportunities such as hiking, boating, and birdwatching to the community

~15%

of the land in the SuAsCo rivers watershed is covered by impervious surfaces such as roads, rooftops, and parking lots. This contributes to stormwater runoff and water pollution issues

>40%

of the land within the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord rivers watershed is publicly accessible, providing endless opportunities for paddling, hiking, and wildlife exploration.