All the brooks and streams in Acton flow into the Assabet River, which flows into the Concord River, which flows into the Merrimack River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean. At one time, migratory fish swam back and forth along this pathway. During the Industrial Revolution, many dams were built to provide hydropower to mills, water to canals, ice, and fire protection water. An unintended consequence was that these dams cut off the passage of fish species that spend part of their life cycle in freshwater rivers and brooks and part in the open ocean, including blueback herring, alewife, and American shad.
Now there is a growing movement to remove these old dams, which no longer serve their intended purpose, are expensive to maintain, and can present a risk of downstream flooding. The town of Acton is in the process of removing the dam at 53 River Street. Two other dams, downstream from Acton, are also being considered for removal: The Talbot Mills Dam in Billerica, and the Warner Pond dam in West Concord.
Talbot Mills Dam on the Concord River in Billerica was first built in 1711 and rebuilt several times subsequently. But now, the dam owner seeks to remove the dam. Since 2016, numerous studies, reports, and public meetings have considered the pros and cons. On April 21, 2023, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced a $800,000 grant towards removing the Talbot Mills Dam, as part of the National Fish Passage program funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. If the Talbot Mills Dam were removed, fish would be able to swim from the Atlantic Ocean up the Assabet River as far as the High Street Dam in Acton.
Warner’s Pond dam was built in 1857 to power a pail factory. The pond behind the dam has been filling with sediment and is choked with aquatic invasive plants. The Town of Concord commissioned a study to consider alternative ways to restore ecological health and recreational opportunities. On May 23, 2023, three alternatives were presented and discussed at a community meeting: Dredge part of the pond, remove the dam, and take no action. Concord’s consultants recommended dam removal. If the Talbot Mill Dam and the Warner’s Pond dam were both removed, migratory fish might be able to swim up Nashoba Brook as far as Ice House Pond at Concord Road and up Fort Pond Brook as far as the Erickson Dam at Main Street.
