Otter Goes Over the Dam—Fall/Summer 2025

October 10, 2025

OARS River Log | OTTER GOES OVER THE DAM | by Heather Conkerton, OARS Ecological Restoration Coordinator |

Published Oct 10, 2025

Talbot Mills Dam Removal Project—Updates

The Talbot Mills Dam removal project continues to advance through permitting, bringing us closer to restoring the river and enhancing community resilience. Here’s a summary of recent achievements and upcoming opportunities to stay involved:

Recent Milestones:

State Water Quality Certification: In March 2025, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection issued the project’s 401 Water Quality Certification (#24-WW26-0045-APP), confirming that the project will not adversely affect water quality, public supply, or other community interests.
Local Approvals for Restoration Work: On September 8, 2025, the Billerica Board of Health granted a variance for working in the floodplain and confirmed that the town’s Stormwater Management Regulations do not apply, recognizing this work as a restoration effort.
State Funding to Support Progress: OARS received $250,000 from the Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs’ Dam and Seawall Repair or Removal Program to advance final design and permitting.

Upcoming Opportunities to Engage
Community input remains an essential part of the process. The project team will present updates and address questions at the following hearings:

Conservation Commission Hearing #4

Monday, November 15, 2025 at 6:30PM

(date is tentative, please check the agenda the week prior to the meeting to see if has been continued to a later date)

Billerica Town Hall, Room 210 (Zoom option may be available)

Project submittals addressing peer review and public comments are available here.

Historic District Commission Decision Appeal Hearing

Monday, Decemer 1, 2025 at 6:30 pm

Hosted on Zoom by the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments link here.

Details and related documents are available here.

The Talbot Mills Dam removal is more than a technical project. It is an opportunity to restore habitat, improve water quality, and strengthen the community’s resilience. We encourage the public to stay informed and engaged as the project moves forward.

If you want to learn more about the project, please visit OARS Talbot Mills Dam Removal page.

Wheeler Pond Dam Removal and North Brook Restoration Project—Community Update

Exciting progress is underway for the Wheeler Pond Dam Removal and North Brook Restoration Project. The project is in the permitting phase, which means it’s being carefully reviewed at the local, state, and federal levels before construction can move forward.

Locally, the Berlin Conservation Commission is leading the review process.
At the state level, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is reviewing the project for a Water Quality Certification.
Federally, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is looking at the project under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.

These reviews ensure that the project protects water quality, wildlife, and surrounding natural resources. Each step also includes opportunities for public input, so community members have a chance to share their voice.

The project will restore North Brook by removing the Wheeler Pond Dam, opening up fish passage, and creating healthier, more resilient waterways.

Key Project Milestones

June 18, 2025: Public hearing opened by the Berlin Conservation Commission
August 29, 2025: Peer review comments received

What’s Next

October 3, 2025: Public Notice in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette announcing the 401 Water Quality Certification review (public comment period open until October 24)
November 5, 2025: Project discussion at the Berlin Conservation Commission meeting

We’ll continue to share updates as the process moves forward. This project is an important step toward restoring the health of our rivers and streams and community input will help shape its success.

If you want to learn more about the project, please visit OARS Wheeler Pond Dam page.

Main Street Dam (Hudson)

OARS has been awarded a Dam & Seawall Design & Permitting grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) to launch a preliminary dam removal study of the Main Street Dam in Hudson.

Data collected last spring by GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc will be used to better understand Bruce’s Pond and how it might change if the dam were removed. The study will look at possibilities such as a free-flowing stream, new wetlands, and changes in water levels or flooding.

As part of this process, GZA, OARS, and the dam owners will be bringing draft design ideas to the Town of Hudson, state agencies, and the public for discussion and feedback. This is the exciting first step in exploring removal of the Main Street Dam to restore river health, improve water quality, and create new opportunities for the community to connect with the Assabet River.

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.