On February 25, Dam Safety (part of the Department of Conservation and Recreation) concluded that significant precipitation and snow melt had led to perilously high water levels in Forge Pond, causing untenable stress on the 300-year old dam. Lt. Wes Vaughn of the Freetown Fire Department serves as the town's Emergency Services Manager. He and Ed Hughes of Dam Safety examined the structure and determined that the high hazard structure's integrity was in danger of being severely compromised. Wes and Ed contacted me, and the so the saga began.
Wes and Ed were concerned about potential loss of life and significant property damage, should the dam breach. The forecast called for continued rainfall, which added to the dire situation.
My first order of business was to contact the legislative delegation: Rep. David Sullivan, Rep. John Quinn, and Rep. Stephen Canessa. I reached Dave Sullivan immediately. He was still on Beacon Hill. Dave went straight to the Governor's office and alterted the Governor and his staff to the Forge Pond problem. Reps. Canessa and Quinn also followed up later in the day. I also contacted the state police, MEMA, and other agencies listed on the town's Emergency Management Plan for the dam. In short order an Emergency Management meeting was held at the Central Fire Station at 6 p.m. DCR, MEMA, Freetown Public Safety people, and I were present, as was Rep. Sullivan.
After the organizational meeting, during which a variety of scenarios and strategies were explored, we all went to the dam. Larry Ashley joined us there. Trudging through the mud, it was clear that the full fury and force of Mother Nature were in motion. Larry and I voted to call an emergency. We called for a voluntary evacuation of homes in the greatest danger. Those calls were placed through Dispatch.
By the next morning, with the water level continuing to rise, the mechanics of a formal Emergency Declaration with the state were in place. By afternoon, the plans for a "fix" were coming together.
Water level checks were conducted hourly for 5 days. The levels continue to recede; the immediate danger is behind us. By mid-April, the dam will be lowered, and the public safety threat will be averted.
While we would prefer to be able to construct a new dam, that prospect is not feasible. Even shoring up Forge Pond Dam is not an option, because the next dam downstream, the Monument Dam, is also "high hazard," meaning it's integrity is also severely compromised. Neither dam can tolerate the stress of another weather event.
We are fortunate the the local and state governments were able to come together expeditiously during this difficult time. We are thankful to the residents who agreed to vacate their homes in the event the dam should let go, in the interest of safety. We are especially grateful that the dam did, in fact, hold (with sandbags); that the rains subsided; that the danger to residents, homes, and four corners -- including a possible environmental impact, if the gas station were to have flooded -- was averted.
For all who helped and supported the town in this effort -- THANK YOU!
Wes and Ed were concerned about potential loss of life and significant property damage, should the dam breach. The forecast called for continued rainfall, which added to the dire situation.
My first order of business was to contact the legislative delegation: Rep. David Sullivan, Rep. John Quinn, and Rep. Stephen Canessa. I reached Dave Sullivan immediately. He was still on Beacon Hill. Dave went straight to the Governor's office and alterted the Governor and his staff to the Forge Pond problem. Reps. Canessa and Quinn also followed up later in the day. I also contacted the state police, MEMA, and other agencies listed on the town's Emergency Management Plan for the dam. In short order an Emergency Management meeting was held at the Central Fire Station at 6 p.m. DCR, MEMA, Freetown Public Safety people, and I were present, as was Rep. Sullivan.
After the organizational meeting, during which a variety of scenarios and strategies were explored, we all went to the dam. Larry Ashley joined us there. Trudging through the mud, it was clear that the full fury and force of Mother Nature were in motion. Larry and I voted to call an emergency. We called for a voluntary evacuation of homes in the greatest danger. Those calls were placed through Dispatch.
By the next morning, with the water level continuing to rise, the mechanics of a formal Emergency Declaration with the state were in place. By afternoon, the plans for a "fix" were coming together.
Water level checks were conducted hourly for 5 days. The levels continue to recede; the immediate danger is behind us. By mid-April, the dam will be lowered, and the public safety threat will be averted.
While we would prefer to be able to construct a new dam, that prospect is not feasible. Even shoring up Forge Pond Dam is not an option, because the next dam downstream, the Monument Dam, is also "high hazard," meaning it's integrity is also severely compromised. Neither dam can tolerate the stress of another weather event.
We are fortunate the the local and state governments were able to come together expeditiously during this difficult time. We are thankful to the residents who agreed to vacate their homes in the event the dam should let go, in the interest of safety. We are especially grateful that the dam did, in fact, hold (with sandbags); that the rains subsided; that the danger to residents, homes, and four corners -- including a possible environmental impact, if the gas station were to have flooded -- was averted.
For all who helped and supported the town in this effort -- THANK YOU!
A few photos from the Dam:
One of the partially breached sections:
Fast flowing water:
Interview with local media outlets:
Downriver from the dam. You can see that minor flooding was taking place even though the dam hadn't fully breached:
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