Valley Street Dam Removal in Springfield VT
- Diana Chaplin
- Sep 2
- 2 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
The Mount Ascutney Regional Commission (MARC) and Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC), in partnership with the Town of Springfield, began the process of removing an old dam on Valley Street on September 3rd.
The removal of the 14’ high by 33’ wide concrete structure will improve flood safety, water quality, and fish passage on a tributary (locally known as Mile Brook) of the Black River. CRC and MARC began working with the Town and State of Vermont on this project in 2018, and after 8 years of grant writing, engineering design, and permitting, the removal of this old dam will begin and run through the end of September 2025.
The Town originally built the dam in 1938 to create a swimming area but closed the pool in 1953 due to “contamination and unhygienic conditions.” For the past 72 years the dam has been slowly degrading and trapping sediment upstream, resulting in significant water quality impacts.
“We are excited to get this old dam removed and the stream restored. Removing the dam lowers the flood elevation level in this area and allows native brook trout to move freely.” -Ron Rhodes, Director of Programs at CRC
“These cold headwater streams are critical habitat for our native brook trout. Removing this dam will open 3.8 miles of stream for spawning and thermal refuge.” -Chris Yurek, Senior Planner at MARC.
Funding for design, permitting and construction has been provided by the State of Vermont Ecosystem Restoration Program (ERP), a Dam Removal Design and Implementation Block Grant (DRDIBG) administered by Watersheds United Vermont (WUV) and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Fish Passage Program. Local contractors hired for this project include Ripple Natural Resources LLC of Randolph, VT, Paula Sagerman, a historic preservation consultant based out of Brattleboro, VT, and Crown Point Excavation LLC of Springfield, VT.
Photos above show closeups of the Valley Street dam before removal.
About the Connecticut River Conservancy:
The Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) restores and advocates for clean water, healthy habitats, and resilient communities to support a diverse and thriving watershed. CRC has been a steward of the Connecticut River and tributary streams since 1952. Their programs include advocacy, aquatic invasive species management, dam removal, habitat restoration, migratory fish surveys, recreation, trash cleanups, and water quality monitoring. Together through community engagement and education, they’re dedicated to ensuring equitable access and healthy rivers for all. Learn more at ctriver.org.
About the Mount Ascutney Regional Commission:
Mount Ascutney Regional Commission advocates for the needs of our member towns and seeks collaborative strategies to address local, regional, and state opportunities and concerns. One of our primary purposes is to provide technical services to town officials and to act as a resource for local governments. We help mediate inter-jurisdictional planning and development issues arising between member communities; facilitate discussion and understanding between local and state entities; and develop plans, policies, strategies, and procedures for addressing issues that are regional in scope.