Officials say Hadley Falls dam removal likely; department cites safety and funding route

Commissioner Scott told the Fiscal Committee on March 20 that the Hadley Falls dam exceeds the six‑foot threshold that defines a dam and "doesn't meet current safety standards," and that the structure "is not grounded in bedrock," increasing safety concerns. "Anything over 6 feet is considered a dam," the commissioner said when asked about height; he estimated the structure could be about 20 feet tall based on observation.

The commissioner said the options are removal or replacement, but "there's no funds to replace it." He said removal creates wetland areas the department can restore using the Aquatic Resource Mitigation Fund and in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Committee members raised local concerns including town events on the impoundment (for example a pumpkin festival), and the commissioner said the water body and banks will look different after removal and that outcomes depend in part on hydrology and drought conditions.

Representative Leishman asked whether the department had been coordinating with the town; the commissioner said the department "has been meeting with the town for years" to discuss impacts. The committee adopted the item (FIS 26053) without further recorded dissent.

The department did not provide a precise measured height in committee; the commissioner acknowledged he did not have the measurement on hand and gave an observational estimate, and he encouraged continued local engagement about recreational and aesthetic impacts as planning proceeds.