Norcross, MassAudubon outline plan to remove four dams on Vinica Brook

Ed Hood of the Norcross Wildlife Foundation and Linda Hutchins of MassAudubon told the Wales Conservation Commission on April 7 that Norcross plans an ecological restoration project on Vinica Brook that would remove four jurisdictional dams on its property.

Hutchins cited engineering reports from the Massachusetts Office of Dam and Safety that classified one of the dams as in "fair" condition and three as in "poor" condition. "If one of these failing dams is damaged or fails completely it would cause the crossing at Peck Rd. and Vinica Brook to fail, which would strand property owners," Hutchins said. She told the commission that maintaining the dams "is not cost effective for Norcross and they serve no benefit to Norcross or the public."

Hood and Hutchins said Norcross will pursue permitting with MEPA, MESA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DEP and local Wales Conservation permitting processes. The presenters asked the commission to review engineering reports and a planned sequence of removal steps; the commission said it will request site visits once permitting has begun and expects to review detailed engineering and sequencing plans before taking any formal position.

Commission members focused their questions on safety and sequencing of removals, and on how the project would protect crossings and nearby property during construction. The presenters did not provide a permit timeline in these minutes.

The commission did not take a formal vote on the project at this meeting. Members said they look forward to receiving the engineering reports and permitting documents and to scheduling site visits when the permitting process is underway.