Many environmental benefits todamremoval
I was disheartened to read that the Town of Billerica Select Board has expressed TOMEPA, their desire to retain the Talbot Mills Dam structure. The Town of Billerica concerns about low water levels having a negative impact onwater availability are of course understandable. Yet the environmental studies have shown that the dam itself does not determinewater levels at the Town intake station on the river. The studies do showthe benefits of damremoval returning the river to a natural state and flow. This of course provides improved water quality both upstream and downstream in the Concord River.
What seems to be the real issue that needs resolution is for the Town of Billerica to take the necessary steps to have a backup water source to the current intake on the Concord river. That
The Talbot Mills Dam on Aug. 6, 2023, as officials debate whether the nearly 200-year-old structure should be removed, with some arguing that it should due to the possible ecological benefits, while others argue against removal because of the historic nature of the dam.
concern exists today for the Town even with the Talbot Dam in place. In my way of thinking, the ideal solutionwould be to have both a secondary source ofwater supply for the Town as well as the dam removal. The only impediment to this is funding for the secondary source of water supply.
Town and State officials should seek both State and Federal public funds in this time of infrastructure funding to bring this important environmental and healthmatter to a positive conclusion for all stakeholders, up and down river, of which there are many.
Tom Sharkey
Lowell