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State crews clear beaver blockage; Templeton issues emergency certification for Depot Pond outfall
Summary
After a large beaver dam blocked the Depot Pond spillway, Mass DCR's Office of Dam Safety and town crews cleared the obstruction; Templeton issued an emergency certification to allow repairs to the outfall pipe and stabilization work to reduce downstream flood risk to Baldwinville Center.
Town staff told the Templeton Conservation Commission on May 18 that the Depot Pond spillway had been blocked by a sizable beaver dam and that state officials and town crews acted quickly to clear the obstruction and reduce flood risk.
Commission staff said the Office of Dam Safety at the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (Mass DCR) requested a permit to breach the beaver dam and install a pond leveler to relieve pressure on the spillway. The commission issued an emergency certification to allow the state and the town’s Department of Public Works to clear obstructions and repair and, if necessary, reinforce or replace the outfall pipe so that water from Depot Pond can properly reach the Otter River.
“Today the site work from the state occurred — they were up there today,” the chair said, noting the town had also issued an emergency beaver permit. Staff described the beaver dam as very large and said crews removed debris and reopened an obstructed outfall pipe to restore flow.
Officials said the concern was that a blocked outfall could cause flooding in downtown Baldwinville and stress infrastructure. Emergency-management staff, DPW and state dam-safety personnel coordinated on site; the commission said it would follow the work and noted permits and incident management steps were in place.
Why it matters: A blocked outfall at Depot Pond presented an immediate localized flood risk; state intervention and the town’s emergency certification allowed timely repairs and site stabilization to protect downtown infrastructure.
Staff said they would deliver the signed emergency paperwork to the appropriate offices and continue to keep the commission and residents updated.
