[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6065086,"mediaKeyId","3211154-406df0a9787384674a633a053627f148","parentId",3211154,"title","Task force narrows dam removal budget; engineers recommend 1,000–2,000 ft of channel work","audioSeconds",450,"startMs",304000,"endMs",754000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3211154-406df0a9787384674a633a053627f148&start=304&end=754","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3211154-406df0a9787384674a633a053627f148/thumbnail_304000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6065086/Massachusetts/Task-force-narrows-dam-removal-budget-engineers-recommend-10002000-ft-of-channel-work","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6065086-91933b64711205453f70fc2d7bf6bbdd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770553190&Signature=bqyQuo44Cjzxultd2EEeihJxmE4nXi309rbrN19MZlVFcpC5PMvfiFlcZT0S1eDOxdQ~Ge-heZKzd7t9ZtcULRZOa4AMLIUr8dWjFGDW-XMERYZPvpQFz7CvjawQXKcSXBPk5JvYmL8BgQl8bv9MY1WTap4vMAwM2vIjl4nbxEDPUcgBMANQW7CTLCHYWc2GVRsdJ5WWFulUmZnD87NBrugPA2PBZVnirLbnvAeTmhelSfrQyA9EUPZ6ATp-5dBXrbgqJXO1e9plCEp0tWBTtSNHgsmeprxZQRTJNmVG-AhTtXvpA4wlbS~OnoJaUywp8oMpFvn63bdVI~5sz0-KKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Concord, MA","date","2025-02-16T00:00:00Z","article","The Town of Concord task force on Tuesday reviewed a revised budget for proposed dam removal that preserves the Sumco removal subtotal of $1,100,000 and introduces a clear lower and upper range for stream-channel establishment.

The task force’s co-chair Jeff (task force co-chair) said the Sumco number of $1,100,000 remains the consistent subtotal from a previous proposal. He added the group is presenting two channel-length scenarios — roughly 1,000 feet and 2,000 feet of engineered channel — and is showing cost estimates for both.

Why it matters: the additional channel work shifts the project from a simple dam removal toward a combined removal-plus-channel-establishment approach. That increases upfront capital costs but, the task force said, better meets the stated project objectives for access and predictable flow paths.

Under the revised spreadsheet discussed on screen, the task force presented channel-establishment line items of $365,000 and $300,000 for the lower-range (1,000-foot) scenario; the draft doubles those figures for the 2,000-foot scenario to $730,000 and $600,000. The larger numbers reflect construction access (for example, biodegradable wood-wetland mats) and channel-formation work drawn from earlier vendor estimates and reference projects.

Jeff said those per-foot reference values came from prior cost proposals and that the group instructed staff to ask EA Engineering (the project engineer) what additional surveying, data collection and percent-design tasks would be required to produce a design that locates the channel where the task force wants it to be. He said the task force would not pay for additional design until the town decides to proceed with the removal.

Members emphasized the project assumes a degree of engineered intervention — not concrete channelization but logs, biodegradable core mats and other low-impact measures — to “influence” the path of the new stream rather than leave the route entirely to chance. As Jeff put it, the interventions are intended to “influence the path the channel takes and not steel and concrete.”

The task force kept a single recurring expense line for adaptive management and calculated a five-year total for those ongoing monitoring and maintenance activities. Task force members agreed the five-year horizon is conservative and that adaptive management could continue beyond that period if needed.

Key technical details discussed: the total channel length through the impoundment area was discussed at roughly 3,750 feet (3,750 ft), with a southeastern constriction where the system narrows to about 1,000 feet; the deep-pool and passage areas between the deep hole and Mesoba Brook are roughly 500–1,000 feet. An EA Engineering hydrology summary and bathymetry informed those estimates.

Sediment handling and reuse also factored into the budgeting discussion. One member noted a comparison project in Framingham where sediment recovered during channel work was reused on site for channel stabilization rather than carted offsite.

Votes at a glance
- Motion: Approval of the January 9 meeting minutes. Motion text in the transcript: \"I move we approve.\" (mover not specified; second: Sammy). Vote recorded: \"Aye.\" Outcome: approved.

What’s next: staff (Jeff and project contacts) will request from EA Engineering a clearer statement of the additional percent-design scope and associated costs to show what would be required to produce an engineered channel for the lower and upper scenarios. The task force asked staff to preserve both the lower- and upper-range columns in the budget to support public discussion and comment.

Ending: Task force members said they will present the revised budget, ranges and conceptual channel graphics at an upcoming public presentation and refine numbers if reviewers request reduced engineering or alternative sediment-handling approaches.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Concord: Warners Pond Dam Removal Sub February 26, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Town of Concord task force on Tuesday reviewed a revised budget for proposed dam removal that preserves the Sumco removal subtotal of $1,100,000 and adds a $365,000–$730,000 range for stream-channel establishment depending on whether 1,000 or 2,000 feet are engineered.","taxTitle","Town of Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts","taxId",68746,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6065074,"Task force readies slides, poster and spokespeople for upcoming public presentation",1127,2271000,3398000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3211154-406df0a9787384674a633a053627f148&start=2271&end=3398","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3211154-406df0a9787384674a633a053627f148/thumbnail_2271000.jpg","/articles/6065074/Massachusetts/Task-force-readies-slides-poster-and-spokespeople-for-upcoming-public-presentation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6065074-53f7c0771888e2e1a9dfed0f917ab6c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770553190&Signature=Ydau6SapEZAfjWHaXUFBWIl-0TN8MMXSLP2gY5DkxlgZzmIwK2NzGz971DLs4bnTy1q1h9Qrsu5uhSOMgzPpS8p61qFdJ-2za90VtDygVFdb~vgpQYBY3Mf4ZDT1nOkdDVLCvywvXS3CsxfWLUKtyjglxJXemskHGzhSHP~XtmygH23NFlkCblTjlh7yisuftzwAGrW50U6zCG5xb3tPB5ydCbf~nIXDQzOqVcjeEfv~N~n2wPkHGMgEA1WMFHGmQtQpkUE5ZdYicyr4IHDfuouKUwhPJcpxP~be050JB-u67G-gOd~QWWiDGszRqfQsmbwLtj4jkrrpMSe07-ZFNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Concord task force began organizing its public outreach materials for a planned presentation in about five weeks, agreeing on slide templates, a poster concept and how members will divide speaking responsibilities.

Why it matters: task force presentations will shape public understanding and the tenor of community feedback; members emphasized visuals and Q&A time so attendees can see likely outcomes and have technical questions answered.

Presentation format and content: members said the presentation should use a common template so different subgroups’ slides are consistent. The agreed elements are: a short statement of what the proposal is, a rationale for the preferred approach, a templated cost slide (task-force-specific costs), a slide on risks and uncertainties, and a slide listing items considered but not advanced.

Poster and graphics: members recommended a large poster with a map and visual insets showing expected habitat types (deep marsh, shallow marsh, expected stream path) and a simplified graphic showing what the post-removal channel might look like. Several members stressed the poster should be highly visual to help attendees who find topographic and technical language hard to parse.

Speakers and Q&A: members proposed dividing speaking topics among available presenters rather than placing all responsibility on one person; Jeff agreed to present if others cannot attend but the group said they should divide sections so each presenter can handle Q&A in their area of knowledge. Members emphasized listening in Q&A and acknowledging good points rather than becoming defensive.

Logistics and timing: the group discussed allotting roughly 15–20 minutes of presentation time and preserving ample time for Q&A during the 45-minute slot. The meeting date under discussion was April 3 (Thursday), with a request to hold an optional rehearsal meeting about three weeks ahead.

Ending: staff will refresh slide decks and assemble poster mockups; members volunteered to split topical areas to prepare for anticipated public questions related to channel path, vegetation outcomes, sediment handling and greenhouse gas considerations.","With a public presentation scheduled in about five weeks, the Town of Concord task force agreed to a consistent slide template (rationale, costs, risks/uncertainties, considered but rejected options), a poster with visual insets showing expected marsh and channel types, and a plan to divide speaking roles among members.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6065076,"Task force examines FEMA map implications and cautions on USGS StreamStats output",231,1734000,1965000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3211154-406df0a9787384674a633a053627f148&start=1734&end=1965","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3211154-406df0a9787384674a633a053627f148/thumbnail_1734000.jpg","/articles/6065076/Massachusetts/Task-force-examines-FEMA-map-implications-and-cautions-on-USGS-StreamStats-output","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6065076-3a35393ddc37dc0df831ae6043c03e26/orig.mp4?Expires=1770553190&Signature=P3PsUICeiw6RWaRo-VWwzUA6IUYbFzmcQl-I7RmsJrpQ4LEaV8Cqf-GSKV1rZ25hME73bVSklGTKnH7gEN~D2w1m6Bx5QJ2BGcjAA-g-PzDS~XtEN554E-RRZYmJV~momsLtwH2fQWpyfm0u-vCXAOCT-MttCauDMNfzXnM5e2rO12dKzDpXKIyGcsg7FGh~ZhqtlUSAUl~Y5bapVXrzcWYpmrgSm~-v~hxa8pGaIMXn9pQERy3-SbMCo8Q2XX9yco1yjNQRFQCFejUtSMv7ZIvNrACFcVOy2rrZRhXZQXaxUs6H2-00DbDWm1HcCHXNrcWJESdGWImoVPWSQC4iYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town of Concord task force members raised two technical questions: whether removing the impoundment will require a formal FEMA Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) and whether an online USGS product called StreamStats can reliably predict the post-removal channel path.

Why it matters: a required LOMR could add measurable cost and schedule implications; misunderstanding StreamStats output could mislead residents about likely channel location after removal.

FEMA mapping: Task force members said initial guidance from the Division of Ecological Restoration suggested a LOMR is typically not required for dam removals where the project is \"run of river\" and does not change the 100-year flood extent materially. Jeff reported that Gilead/VA (project contacts) will look further into the requirement and that a LOMR — if required — could cost on the order of $50,000 to complete because it requires hydrologic calculations and supporting documentation.

USGS StreamStats: The group reviewed a screen grab from USGS StreamStats that appeared to route the channel south of Scout Island. Jeff explained that StreamStats uses a digital-elevation-based \"stream grid\" and, for impounded (flat-water) areas, creates an artificial shortest path from inflow to outflow. He said that StreamStats is not intended to predict the natural, post-removal stream route inside an impoundment because the model does not incorporate bathymetry; instead it uses a shortest-path algorithm over a gridded elevation surface.

EA Engineering’s hydrology and previous alternatives analyses were cited as the more reliable sources for where the channel is likely to form; those reports indicate the post-removal flow path is unlikely to follow the StreamStats shortest-path output and, at least initially, will follow the channel path identified in the consultants’ reports.

Next steps: staff will seek written confirmation about the likelihood a LOMR is required and a cost estimate for that work. The task force will use EA Engineering’s bathymetry and hydrology findings — not StreamStats screen grabs alone — when preparing public-facing graphics.

Ending: Members agreed that StreamStats output should be treated cautiously and that any LOMR question needs a definitive, written answer from the appropriate technical or regulatory authority before the public presentation.","Members discussed whether the town would need a FEMA Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) after dam removal and reviewed limitations of the USGS StreamStats product; staff will seek written confirmation and estimate whether a LOMR would add about $50,000 to the budget.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6065081,"Task force seeks single summary of prior spending to show 'sunk costs'",316,932000,1248000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3211154-406df0a9787384674a633a053627f148&start=932&end=1248","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3211154-406df0a9787384674a633a053627f148/thumbnail_932000.jpg","/articles/6065081/Massachusetts/Task-force-seeks-single-summary-of-prior-spending-to-show-sunk-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6065081-c2bad5cc4d66e82129be58fe102938c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770553190&Signature=XtkliJ-zyWTxliMSHjfoQ2MWrFXmdsfTPpH1SCLnVktz7QEGmti~ckZxC5I8jSljrPh98vL~Zi9wY1w00ufPBuwAn8t520qMw9XnNkW5VF47ZUl4mUCx4H9k8yIve5l46z5tbCmBy6jXo4jp3PHOs5OdW-ymoUCYFgaOnsUMUhVAnJJchhtpvScRAeXHXRcaD2FO3gxQIKSMiB741fsvmQzARmERxVNtGqJPxilJPxJSgvd7TWCDdDe9tAUDCpWRhp01KesWJIzd-04Am83qt9hco~6F4ya5~fkeY6gX5H0WgsuTJIQqv9dwSxOS4q833f47Ldz2kyyBm82p5aEoPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Town of Concord task force asked staff to produce one consolidated table that lists all expenditures to date related to the dam/removal and dredging work so the public can see what has already been spent versus what the town would pay in the future.

Why it matters: task force members said transparency about prior spending will help residents interpret the new capital estimates and avoid assigning past expense to one subcommittee’s future budget.

Discussion: Multiple members proposed including costs dating back to earlier alternatives studies (for example, 2012 and the 2018 analysis) and to list fees for the 30% design, dredging solicitation and other task-force expenses. Several members cautioned against letting the exercise become a source of contention over who “owns” past costs; instead they preferred an impartial, overall-task-force summary.

A suggestion from the meeting: produce a single summary table that lists historic expenditures (date, purpose, amount, payer if known) and display it in the front of the summary report so readers can distinguish prior spending from the new capital ask.

Clarifying details discussed included that some task-force work and third-party studies predate the current 30% design; task-force members said they do not want only the dam subgroup’s prior expenditures singled out while other groups’ prior spending remains unshown.

Next steps: Jeff said he will relay the group’s feedback to the steering group and asked staff to prepare a consolidated summary for inclusion in the overall task force materials.

Ending: The group agreed that an all-inclusive summary is preferable to piecemeal or subgroup-only accounting and that the steering group should coordinate final content.","Members asked staff to create a single table summarizing prior expenditures (30% design, RFIs, dredging solicitations and task force costs) so public materials separate historical spending from future budget requests.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Task force narrows dam removal budget; engineers recommend 1,000–2,000 ft of channel work

Task force readies slides, poster and spokespeople for upcoming public presentation

Task force examines FEMA map implications and cautions on USGS StreamStats output

Task force seeks single summary of prior spending to show 'sunk costs'