Amid Devastating Flooding, Dam Failure in Leominster, Four Things the State Can Do Right Now
SEPTEMBER 12, 2023: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BOSTON, MA––Amid widespread, devastating flooding in Leominster, the collapse of Brooks Pond Dam, and the evacuation downstream of the Barrett Park Pond Dam, we again urge the state to make it a priority of the Commonwealth and the Secretary to remove defunct dams and protect residents from catastrophic flooding.
There are over 3,000 dams in the Commonwealth, and while some dams provide important benefits, such as water supply or flood control, many do not. Massachusetts has the highest number of dams per stream mile in the United States, and many are abandoned, neglected, and otherwise in disrepair. On the Charles River alone, there are 19 dams on the main stem and 100+ throughout the watershed, and over forty are at significant risk of failure according to the MA Office of Dam Safety (ODS).
As last evening’s storm shows, these defunct dams are not ready for current and future storms. In the span of just a few hours, torrential downpours from a series of thunderstorms brought six to nine inches of rain in the Leominster area––washing out roads, flooding homes and businesses, submerging State Route 2, threatening the failure of at least two defunct dams. And this is just the beginning––with climate change, our state can expect more frequent, intense, damaging storms.
As the catastrophe unfolds in Leominster––we urge the Commonwealth to step up and act to protect people and property from future flooding. In “Four things Mass. can do now to lower flood risk from failing dams”, published in the Boston Globe in July, we called for several immediate actions the state can take today––updating dam hazard ratings using rainfall projections that account for climate and property risk; updating maps that show where flooding would happen should a dam fail; making this data easily available to the public; and above all, making it state policy to prioritize removal of unnecessary dams and river restoration over more costly options such as dam repair or disaster recovery.
Experts are available for further comment.
Charles River Watershed Association’s mission is to protect, restore and enhance the Charles River and its watershed through science, advocacy, and the law. CRWA develops science-based strategies to increase resilience, protect public health, and promote environmental equity as we confront a changing climate.
CONTACT:
Julia Hopkins
Communications & Outreach Manager
Charles River Watershed Association
(617) 540-5650 x 1071
