Templeton commission issues order of conditions for 51 Main Street dam rehab, pending 401 water-quality certification

The Templeton Conservation Commission voted June 16 to issue an Order of Conditions for the rehabilitation of the dam at 51 Main Street, file number 3040399, with the condition that the applicant provide a 401 Water Quality Certification before work begins.

The action follows a presentation from Stephanie Tetrault, the project's project manager, who said the proposed work will place riprap on the existing embankment and that the team has quantified 92 cubic yards of material to be removed upstream of the spillway. “We are not proposing to dredge more than a 100 cubic yards … we've quantified 92 cubic yards,” Tetrault said. She also told the commission she will submit the 401 water‑quality certificate application to MassDEP the following day and expects the certification process could take a few months.

MassDEP comments, read into the record by the conservation agent, noted the project was filed as a limited project under 310 CMR and asked the applicant to demonstrate that the proposed work does not substantially enlarge the dam. The comments also said a wildlife habitat evaluation may be required for any portion of the project that represents an expansion and reiterated that a 401 Water Quality Certification is required for dredging or discharge to jurisdictional waters.

Tetrault told the commission that the proposed riprap will mostly be placed on top of the existing embankment and that the design was constrained to avoid increasing impoundment or changing spillway function. “The work that's being proposed … is the minimum that we can do to bring it back up to dam safety standards,” she said, adding that turbidity controls and water‑management measures will be used and that much of the work will be done in the dry.

Commissioner Christophe moved to issue the Order of Conditions pending receipt of the 401 certification; Commissioner Joanne seconded. The roll‑call vote was recorded as yes from Joanne, Dave, George and Kristoff.

Next steps recorded on the record: the applicant will submit the 401 application and provide a copy to the commission; the conservation agent said he will compile and issue the Order of Conditions once the water‑quality certification is provided. The commission noted that MassDEP may comment further or pursue appeals after local action, but no additional restrictions were added at the hearing.

The commission’s formal action and the MassDEP file number (3040399) were entered into the minutes at the meeting.