An Update on South Natick Dam
Dam removal is underway in South Natick! This update comes four years after the Natick Select Board voted in favor of removing the spillway and restoring the river back in 2022.
Last week, water levels in the impoundment were drawn down in anticipation of spillway removal, which is expected to begin on July 16th. Water levels are being lowered through the use of the sluice gates, which have been opened to allow for draining.
On June 17th, we recovered the water quality monitors we had deployed upstream and downstream of the dam in preparation for the dam’s removal. We plan to re-deploy them after the dam is removed to compare water quality before and after dam removal.
For background, the Charles River Dam at South Natick is an earthen dam with a concrete spillway on the Charles River in Natick, MA. A historic mill dam, the present-day dam was rebuilt in 1934 after the previous dam was destroyed in a 1929 flood. The high hazard structure, as classified by the Office of Dam Safety, was rated in "poor condition". The dam served no purpose for power or flood control, and impeded migratory fish passage, effectively degrading the river ecosystem.
South Natick Dam also scored highly on CRWA’s dam removal priority analysis in the Watershed Restoration Plan. This analysis shows that removal is impactful on a watershed scale for improving public safety, connecting long stretches of the river, and protecting critical surrounding ecosystems.
Removing the spillway is part of a larger project that will preserve the vital mature trees, improve air and water quality, reduce heat island impacts, mitigate flooding, and offer the chance to restore the river ecosystem and provide the numerous benefits of a free-flowing river to wildlife and residents alike.
Want to learn more?
Stop by the Bacon Free Library this summer to chat with CRWA staff and dam removal experts at our office hours!
Review project information and sign up for updates on the Town’s project website
Take a look at answers to some Frequently Asked Questions
