Pittsfield commission approves dredging plan for Parker Pond

The Pittsfield Conservation Commission voted unanimously on Jan. 8 to issue an Order of Conditions authorizing dredging at Parker Pond, 669 Churchill Street, to remove roughly 4,500 cubic yards of accumulated sediment.

Representing the applicant Jeffrey Carr, Bryan Siter of Foresight Land Services described a plan to lower the pond in a controlled dewatering process conducted over several weeks in summer, repair the pond outlet and reroute the outlet flow through the work area, and use floating turbidity curtains to limit downstream sediment movement. City staff asked for and received clarifications about the dewatering method and minimum flow requirements.

Resident Ned Kirchner spoke in favor of the project, saying he remembered the pond from childhood and supported restoring it. Conservation staff Shannon Poulin told the commission she considered the project acceptable once the dewatering approach had been clarified.

Vice Chair Thomas Sakshaug moved to issue Orders of Conditions numbered 1–33; Elizabeth Calebaugh seconded the motion, which the commission approved unanimously.

The permit requires the applicant to follow the submitted erosion- and sediment-control measures and the dewatering plan as presented; disposal of dredged material was described as offsite. The work was presented as a summer-season activity to allow controlled lowering and to maintain minimum downstream flow during operations.

The commission record lists Foresight Land Services as the project consultant and Jeffrey Carr as the applicant. The commission did not identify specific contractors or a final disposal location in the meeting record; those details may appear in the permit files.