Wheeler Pond Dam Removal
Reconnecting the Rivers and the Ocean
The Talbot Mills Dam currently obstructs 35 miles of mainstem rivers, 100 miles of tributaries, and 260 acres of lakes and ponds. Removing the dam will restore the natural flow of the Concord River, reconnecting these waterways with the ocean and allowing migratory fish to reach their historic spawning grounds. This restoration will benefit migratory and local fish and a wide array of other wildlife species that rely on free movement along the river.
Beneficiaries of Dam Removal
Turtles
Species like the Blanding’s turtle will gain access to a greater range of habitats, improving their chances for survival and reproduction.
Fish Species
The reconnection of these waterways will significantly benefit migratory fish such as river herring and American shad. Restoring their spawning habitats can help their populations recover, increasing their resilience to climate change and supporting the larger food web.
Mammals
Otters, muskrats, and beavers will benefit from the increased connectivity, allowing them to move freely and access more diverse habitats.
Birds
Birds such as the great blue heron and the bald eagle, which rely on fish as a primary food source, will thrive with the increased fish populations.
Marine Life
Restored fish populations will support commercial and sports fisheries in the rivers and the Gulf of Maine, benefiting species such as theantic bluefin tuna and harbor seals.
Removing the Talbot Mills Dam is crucial in enhancing the entire riverine ecosystem. This project will support a diverse range of species by reestablishing natural migration patterns and improving habitat connectivity, fostering a more resilient and vibrant ecosystem.
Benefits of Dam Removal
Water Quality
When water velocity is slowed, as it is behind a dam, the temperature increases as it’s warmed by the sun. This temperature shift and associated water quality changes can make the water uninhabitable for some species during the warmer months. The SuASCo rivers have many dams, resulting in a compounding effect on temperature increase as the water moves downstream and spends time in the impoundments behind each dam. As temperature increases and water slows, dissolved oxygen decreases. Most aquatic organisms rely on oxygen dissolved in water to breathe, and limited dissolved oxygen can be deadly for aquatic life. Improving water quality does not only benefit aquatic life, however. Thousands of people currently get their drinking water from the Concord River, and improved water quality will also help them.
Improved Riverine Functions
The upstream areas of watersheds supply the downstream estuaries and marshes with sediment, nutrients, and other components necessary for a healthy ecosystem. Dams block natural sediment and nutrient transport, disrupting their conveyance downstream and often resulting in a buildup behind the dams. Excess nutrients, especially when compounded with warm water, can result in algae blooms, some of which may be toxic for people, animals, and other nuisance aquatic plants.
Flood Mitigation
The dam creates an artificially higher water level upstream. Because it is a run-of-river dam, it does not control flooding downstream like some larger dams. Removing the dam would both reduce flooding upstream and remove the risk of a catastrophic failure, which would release a significant amount of water at once, potentially flooding downstream properties.
Climate Resilience and Floodplain Access
The Talbot Mills Dam is surrounded by development, meaning the upstream river channel is currently constricted on either side. With the dam’s removal, the river width above the dam site will decrease as the natural channel returns and some of its historical floodplains will be restored. When large storms occur, the river can fill the floodplains with water rather than the surrounding streets and properties. More extensive floodplains also slow the water’s speed, making it less destructive as it moves downstream. As we expect more intense rainstorms with climate change, allowing the river to utilize these floodplains to manage floodwater naturally will benefit the surrounding communities.
Healthier Ecosystems
Along with all the other benefits, restoring a river’s natural functions results in a healthier ecosystem. When the river benefits, all the systems that rely on it also benefit. For example, a migratory bird that passes through the Concord River watershed and can feed on fish and insects then has the nourishment to travel to another entirely different ecosystem where the bird contributes to the food web and ecosystem functions. Fish that migrate through the Concord River to spawn also feed bass, bald eagles, seals, whales, tuna, cod, and other fish and birds out in the ocean. These examples demonstrate how interconnected the SuAsCo watershed is with the greater ecosystem.
Recreation
The SuAsCo watershed is already an excellent place to enjoy canoeing, kayaking, rafting, fishing, picnicking, and bird-watching along the rivers. Removal of the Talbot Mills Dam would provide an opportunity to engage in each of these activities in a new and different way. It is very difficult for boaters to get around the Talbot Mills Dam.
Decommissioning Aging Infrastructure
There are around 161 dams in the SuAsCo watershed. Many of these, including the Talbot Mills Dam, are privately owned. The Talbot Mills Dam is an intermediate-sized, significant hazard dam. Due to its size and the amount of water stored behind it, dam failure could result in economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or other impacts. As the dam ages and its condition deteriorates, this risk to the community downstream and the liability to the dam owner becomes more imminent.