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Commission reports increased flow, sand ridges and concerns about river maintenance and access
Summary
Members reported rising pond and river levels, sand ridges near shore, recent removal of dam boards, at least 8–9 inches of flow in the fish ladder, and continued access challenges for offloading boats because of sandbars and marshy banks.
Commission members reviewed ongoing river and pond maintenance issues, reporting that the pond and river levels have risen after recent precipitation and ice melt, and describing several access and navigation concerns.
Members said the pond shore has approximately 10 feet of exposed shoreline pushed up by ice and sand. At Oliver Mill the A Channel was reported to have slightly more flow than the other channels, while some channels remained shallow; the fish ladder was reported to have "at least 8 inches, 9 inches" of water coming through after boards were removed from the dam. Members reported some boards that had been placed in December to conserve water were taken out about two weeks earlier, which increased flow through pens 1–4; section 5 remains sanded in.
The commission discussed boat and barge offloading logistics, noting several locations are marshy or have sandbars that risk grounding a barge 200–2,000 feet downstream. Members described a potential maintenance pad and turnaround near Lakeshore Road and a sand-based middle-door area where a trailer could back in, but warned that sandbars and marsh would complicate access. Stapleshore/Staple Shore (spelled variously in the transcript) and Bridal Street were discussed as possible offload points but were described as marshy and difficult to use.
Members discussed riverwork priorities including clearing sticks and vegetation after the thaw, monitoring flows at Bridge Street, Vaughan Street and Bond Street, and the need for larger bridge openings at the railroad pinch point to improve channel flow. A conservation-program chemical option was mentioned; a member said Misty from the state's natural heritage program had promoted a short-lived aquatic herbicide used in other river sites, and some members expressed concern about downstream travel to wells and non-target effects. The transcript records observations of recent water temperatures (about 39°F) compared with recent years (43–44°F) and that the ladder now has measurable flow. No formal policy changes or chemical treatments were approved in the meeting.
