Dam
removal would benefit several types of recreation along the Neponset
River
including fishing, boating, and riverside recreation. Fishing
opportunities would be greatly expanded, boating which is
currently blocked by the dams would be safer and considerably
more enjoyable, and the safety of those recreating along the
banks of the river would be enhanced.
Removing the dams would also change the
appearance of the river as seen from the perspective of those
recreating along the riverbanks. This, combined with the
opportunity to recreate bordering vegetated wetlands that were
flooded
when the dams were built, creates an opportunity to
re-engineer
the Neponset
River
channel to maximize its aesthetic value for those enjoying the
shoreline.
This is discussed further under "Aesthetics"
below.
Fishing
— The
restoration of fish populations discussed elsewhere would lead
to a substantial increase in recreational fishing
opportunities on the
Neponset
River. This increased fishing resource has the potential to
translate into a substantial economic activity as well.
Recreational fishing adds more than $1 billion to the
Massachusetts
economy each year, and shad fishing is a major tourism
industry on other
Massachusetts
rivers like the
Connecticut
.
In addition, remediation of PCB-contaminated sediments would
be expected, over time, to reduce contaminant levels in
resident fish species and lead to the eventual lifting of fish
consumption bans which currently apply to fish caught in the
Neponset
River
in
Norwood,
Walpole, Westwood, Dedham, Canton, Hyde Park, Mattapan and Dorchester.
Boating
— The
Baker and T&H Dams each creates a pond which can currently
be navigated by canoes, kayaks and other small boats. However,
the ponds are too small to serve as significant boating
destinations in their own right. Under existing conditions,
boating through the
Lower Neponset
(i.e., from Readville to the ocean) is difficult because
boaters must stop and carry their boats and gear for
approximately ¼-mile around each of the dams. The portage
route at the T&H Dam is currently closed due to the
actions of the abutting private property owner. The portage
route at the Baker Dam requires carrying boats across an
active trolley line.
Boating on the
Lower Neponset
is further impeded by the shape of the riverbed. Designed in
the 1960s by the state for flood control purposes regardless
of recreational considerations, the Lower Neponset
is unnaturally wide and flat in cross-section. This leaves
most of the Lower Neponset
too shallow for small boats during much of the year.
An additional component of an integrated fish
passage/PCB-cleanup project would be reconfiguration of the
stream channel to enhance the river’s value for boating and
habitat purposes. The dams and their ponds would be replaced
with a series of calm pools, smooth moving water, and riffles
or small rapids. The primary hazard to novice boaters—the
dams—would be eliminated. The drudgery of carrying boats
around each dam would be replaced with a continuous
“water-trail” from Walpole
, through the Blue Hills, to the sea.
Riverside
Activities — Under
existing conditions, significant recreation occurs along the
banks of the river by those walking, jogging or cycling along
the Neponset Greenway Trail. Removal of the Baker and T&H
dams would not adversely affect such recreational activities.
It would, however, result in the cleanup of PCB-contaminated
sediments below the mean high water line, which would make
accessing the water’s edge, picnicking and similar
activities safer.
June
2008
