CRWA Applauds Healey-Driscoll Administration for $5.6 Million for Defunct Dam Removal–Including $250K for Natick!

Charles River Watershed Association applauds the Healey-Driscoll Administration for expediting $5.6 million in state funding to protect communities from the hazards of catastrophic dam failure. This includes $250K for the Town of Natick to advance the removal of the Charles River Dam in South Natick, a defunct high-hazard potential dam rated in “poor condition” by the Massachusetts Office of Dam Safety. 

Built in 1934, the Charles River Dam is owned by the Town of Natick and poses hazards to downstream communities due to its deteriorated condition. Should the dam fail in extreme weather events like those witnessed last week in Vermont, people, property, and critical infrastructure could be impacted. Additionally, the dam impedes fish passage, degrades water quality and ecosystem health, and has been long opposed by the Nipmuc tribe. In November 2022, after years of thoughtful deliberation and study from the Charles River Dam Advisory Committee, Natick Select Board voted 4-1 in favor of dam removal to restore fish passage, build flood resilience, and heal the river ecosystem. This critical funding will empower the Town of Natick to act––supporting design and permitting for dam removal and restoration.

“We applaud the Healey-Driscoll administration for funding this critical project that will increase climate resiliency, improve the health of the Charles River, and eliminate ongoing maintenance costs and liabilities of a high-hazard dam,” says Climate Resilience Specialist Robert Kearns. “Removing the Natick Dam will restore wildlife connectivity on a total of 26.23 miles of the main stem of the Charles River.“