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Commission approves limited sediment sampling at Slade’s Mill Dam to inform larger restoration project
Summary
The commission approved a notice of intent (DEP file 0610845) for limited sediment coring at Slade’s Mill Dam to characterize sediments for future partial dam removal, habitat enhancement and waterfront access work; sampling will use VibraCore from a small boat and take one to two days.
The Revere Conservation Commission approved a notice of intent, DEP file number 0610845, to allow limited sediment sampling at the Slade’s Mill Dam area to inform a future, larger restoration and partial dam removal project.
Rhianna Summers of Weston & Sampson and Kristen Holmayer, resilience manager for the North Suffolk Office of Resilience and Sustainability (NSORS), presented the proposal and said the current filing covers only sediment sampling and lab analysis to characterize contaminants and disposal needs. Summers described the plan for six sediment cores collected with a VibraCore system deployed from a small boat during high tide to avoid crossing salt marsh and to minimize disturbance; cores will be less than 3 inches in diameter and up to about 6 feet deep or until refusal.
Presenters said the limited work would allow the team to design a future project that could include invasive species treatment (phragmites and tree of heaven), trash and debris removal, a kayak launch and a boardwalk on the Chelsea side, and partial removal of the northern portion of the berm to improve safety and hydraulic conditions. The project team noted the site contains salt marsh, coastal bank, coastal beach, tidal flat, and areas containing shellfish; the site is within land subject to coastal storm flowage at elevation 10 feet. The project team also reported active coordination with the Massachusetts Historical Commission and federal agencies for historic-review and archaeological monitoring plans as mitigation for potential adverse effects.
Commissioners asked technical questions about the VibraCore equipment (the presenters said it is pneumatic) and about invasive species locations. Commenters and commissioners discussed ownership and maintenance coordination among DCR, Chelsea and Revere; presenters said Chelsea would maintain boardwalk/park areas and that Revere and DCR are cooperating. The commission closed the hearing and approved the notice of intent, with staff to follow up on the certificate of compliance process after the sampling work is complete.
