ACTION ALERT: Show Your Support for Dam Removal!
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) presented possible plans for the future of the Watertown Dam last Thursday, including potential removal. As this alternatives analysis study concludes, it is time for DCR to commit to full dam removal, the preferred alternative.
Submit your comments before December 19 to share your feedback and encourage DCR to commit to dam removal!
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:
Topic selection drop-down menu:
Watertown Dam Removal Alternatives - deadline 12/19/2025
TEMPLATE LANGUAGE:
Dear DCR Team,
Thank you for your presentation of the Watertown Dam Removal Alternatives on November 20th, and for the chance to comment on this project.
My name is [Name], and I [live in/represent] [Town or Organization]. [Add details about your connection to the Charles River and/or why you care about this project]. [Example: I have walked my dog along the Charles River nearly every day for the past 10 years, and I love its natural beauty amongst a suburban landscape].
Of the alternatives presented, I support the Full Dam Removal option. This option would fully restore the Charles River’s health along this section of the river, and is well worth the one-time cost given the long-term ecological benefits.
The Charles River (Quinobequin) is an iconic and historic landmark in Massachusetts, with a rich history of use by Indigenous communities long before colonization. Removing the dam, which no longer serves a purpose, would allow migratory fish like American Shad, Alewife/Blueback Herring and Rainbow Smelt to pass through Watertown unimpeded, restoring the abundant fish populations that one thrived in the Charles. Dam removal would also improve water quality, expand the River’s floodplain, and reduce risk of breach during storms.
I strongly urge DCR to commit to removing Watertown Dam, as it would powerfully demonstrate the Commonwealth’s commitment to restoring biodiversity. As more dams are removed on the Charles River, we can expect a resurgence in both the abundance and diversity of species. In this time of great change and uncertainty, removing Watertown Dam will be a transformative and positive act of change for our community, watershed, and environment.
Sincerely,
[Name]
