|
With a changing climate, communities are studying whether their dams will hold up despite increasingly intense rainfall. Christine Hatch at UMass Amherst notes “there’s more rain per hour and more rain per storm,” confirming a 50-year trend. Where does all this rain go? Dams were created in the 1700s and 1800s to power mills, but today, most are obsolete and no longer serve their intended purpose. Many are also unsafe and at risk of failing and causing significant economic loss and loss of life. Of the 3,000 dams in Massachusetts, 300 of them are considered unsafe.
Hagar Pond dam in Marlborough, located just a few yards from Route 20, is one such dam that is considered unsafe. According to the Office of Dam Safety, the state agency regulating Massachusetts dams, the Hagar Pond dam has a high likelihood of failing and causing economic loss and a potential loss of life. Over the years, there have been emergencies when debris has blocked the spillway and water levels have risen. The concrete structure is crumbling, exacerbated by trees growing atop the embankments, which is likely weakening the structure.
Although urgent action is needed, the ownership of the dam is disputed. Without having a clear idea of who owns the dam, it has been difficult to move forward on either repairing or removing the dam. On a cold day in January, interested parties from surrounding homes and businesses, municipal staff, State Rep. Carmine Gentile, and local nonprofits came together to discuss options.
| 
