FITCHBURG – State Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper recently joined Mayor Sam Squailia, with other state and local officials, for a site tour of McTaggart’s Pond Dam and Philip’s Brook to celebrate nearly $3 million in state funding for the demoltion of the dam and restoration of the brook.
The funding is part of the first round of Environment & Climate One Stop (ECO) grant awards totaling $45 million that was announced by the Healey-Driscoll Administration in August for climate resilience and environmental projects across Massachusetts, according to a release. The new ECO program makes it easier for cities and towns to apply for funding for climate and environmental resilience projects by combining seven separate applications into one streamlined process.
The millions in funding awarded to the City of Fitchburg through the program will pay for the demolition of McTaggart’s Pond Dam and the restoration of Phillips Brook, which currently runs through a concrete channel. The project will remove a deteriorating dam in unsafe conditions, reconnect over a mile of river habitat for native fish, and make the water cleaner by cooling it and boosting oxygen levels.
“This project has been years in the making, and we’re proud to help bring it to completion. Once finished, it will enhance safety, restore aquatic connectivity, and improve water quality,” said Tepper. “Projects like this demonstrate the positive impact we hope to see across the state, and the Governor’s Mass Ready Act will provide even more funding to support initiatives that ensure communities are prepared for extreme weather events.”
The city is collaborating with the Nashua River Watershed Association to oversee the restoration work and during the Sept. 24 tour those present discussed the project and planned restoration work while visiting key areas of the project site.
“This project has been over a decade in the making, and this nearly $3 million award is a tremendous win for Fitchburg,” Squailia said. “It allows us to finally address a major public safety and infrastructure liability while restoring Phillips Brook and improving the natural environment around it. This is a great example of what persistence, planning, and strong state and local partnerships can accomplish for our community.”
The city also received a second ECO One Stop grant through the Dam & Seawalls grant program, $133,700 to study whether the Overlook Reservoir Dam can be removed safely. This large, high-hazard dam, currently rated in poor condition, holds back significant water in a densely populated area, and the study will determine if complete or partial removal is possible.
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