A presentation about community concerns around dam removals. Presented by Beth Lambert, river restoration program coordinator from the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration during the Buzzards Bay Coalition's 2012 Decision Makers Workshop series. Learn more at www.savebuzzardsbay.org/DecisionMakers

1. Mud Pits, Flooding,
and Wildlife
Community Concerns and
the Dam Removal Process
Beth Lambert, River Restoration
Program Coordinator
March 22, 2010
Monument Beach, MA
Mission: To restore and protect the health
and integrity of the Commonwealth's rivers,
wetlands, and watersheds for the benefit of
people, fish, and wildlife

2. September 2008
North Branch of the Hoosic River, Clarksburg
15 feet
Photo by B. Lambert

3. November, 2010
Photo by N. Wildman

4. June 2011

5. 1. The dam owner is liable for the dam
302 CMR 10.0 DAM
SAFETY
• 10.13: Liability
(1) The owner shall be
responsible and liable
for damage to property
of others or injury to
persons, including but
not limited to loss of
life, resulting from the
operation, failure of or
misoperation of a dam.

6. 1. The dam owner is
responsible for
inspections and repairs
302 CMR 10.0 DAM SAFETY
10.07 Inspection Schedule
 Owner must have dam
inspected regularly by a
qualified engineer
 Owner must repair dam
to bring up to modern
safety standards
 Office of Dam Safety can
fine owners or order them
to take certain steps

7. 1. The owner makes the decision to remove a dam.
The owner can decide how much input others have.
Public
vs.
Private

8. 2. Many others may enjoy benefits of the dam.
2. Others enjoy benefits of thesmall
Has a dam
dock
Bought property for
pond view
Likes to watch
birds by the water
Takes pond
water for
lawn
irrigation
Takes pond water to
irrigate orchard for
farm stand

9. 2. Inform early and often
• Identify who will be affected by the project
before starting
• Be open and honest about decision process
• Be clear whether you’re asking for input or
informing them
• Expect affected people to be angry and upset
• Take their concerns and questions seriously
• Update frequently
• Ideally, dam owner takes the lead

10. 3. Dam removal myths are widespread
What people fear

11. 3. Counter myths with real-life examples
3 months later….

12. Eel River, Plymouth, April 2010
Photo by A. Hackman

13. Eel River, four months later
Photo by A. Hackman

14. Wapping Road Dam, Jones River

16. 5. Change is hard
• What will happen to the wildlife (Swans? ducks?
Turtles? River otters? Blue herons?)
• Why won’t the state take over the dam?
• I bought my property because of the pond. Isn’t the
dam owner responsible for maintaining the pond?
• Will breaching the dam cause a big rush of water?
• What will happen to my well?
• Will invasive plants colonize the new floodplain?
• Will I still be able to paddle on the river?
• I am afraid my property value will go down. What are
you going to do about it?
• The dam is historic; it should be preserved.
• Can DEP permit dam removal?

17. 5. Some concerns may be addressed through data

18. 5. It’s important to have a response for all questions

19. 5. Consider alternate communication formats

20. 5. Consider
• Breakout groups
• Kitchen table meetings
• Field tours
• Neighborhood
meetings

21. 6. Different organizations have different strengths
(and weaknesses)
Technical
Forum for
Information community
education
Watershed
Group
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Know local
politics
x
x
Dam owner
Federal
agency
Interact
with
legislators
x
Regional
NGO
State
Agency
Advocate
for project
x
x
6. Your outreach team must be able to cover all these bases.

22. 7. Political factors can influence a dam removal
decision and project implementation

23. 7. Develop a proactive strategy for working with
elected officials, influential community members

24. 8. There is a formal process for public engagement
Permit
Notice of Intent
401 Water Quality Cert.
Chapter 91 Dredge Permit
Army Corps 404
Section 106
Method
Notification to abutters; hearing
at Con Comm meeting
Notice in local paper of comment
period; hearing at discretion of
agency
Mail plans to abutters; notice in
paper of comment period
Comment period noticed on
website
Solicit input at public meetings.
May require hearing at Historic
District Commission.

25. 9. Funders may
(or may not) be
comfortable with
controversy

26. Your Community Engagement Strategy
• Dam owner must be on board
• Put together an advisory team and develop
communications plan
• Communicate early and often with affected stakeholders;
expect anger; let people vent; validate concerns
• Be clear about who is making the dam removal decision
and whether input into that decision is needed
• Begin public education about dams well before project
starts (presentations, field tours, FAQs)
• Need strategy for managing politics (elected officials;
influential people in town; etc). Inform and update
often.
• Think about who is the best person to carry the message
• Be flexible

27. Thank you!
Beth Lambert
River Restoration Program Coordinator
Division of Ecological Restoration
617-626-1526
beth.lambert@state.ma.us