As reported by the Greenfield, Mass. Reporter, a small, 77-year-old timber crib dam that spans the Green River at Meridian Street is once again attracting a lot of attention. There are differing opinions about what should happen with the dam, and after five years of study and planning nothing has been done, yet. It’s the kind of quagmire that happens oftentimes when shared resources are at stake.
A coalition of river stewards, supported by the Corps of Engineers, are set to remove the Wiley & Russell Dam at Meridian Street, which was built in 1936, and restore the river closer to what they say will be the natural-flowing river it was more than 200 years ago. That could happen as early as next summer. Another dam was originally slated for removal, but that project has been scrapped for now.
At the same time, local historians have kicked up a fight to save the dam by starting a signature campaign, because they believe the dam would provide great educational opportunities to residents, tourists and area students.
In the Reporter, Eric Twarog, the town’s director of planning and development, said after five years of study and preliminary work, it has been determined that the dam should come out. He said the town is discussing mitigation, which is required by the state, so historians could save a piece of the dam for display somewhere. Opponents want to restore the dam and have it listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Read more: http://www.recorder.com/home/8089797-95/historians-river-stewards-take-different-positions-on-dam
Read 2010 plan update: http://www.ctriver.org/documents/GreenRiverHandout.pdf
