Hearing on Lowell’s Pawtucket Dam in Nashua NH Tonight

June 24, 2010 by Marie Posted in History, Lowell, Politics, Science, Culture, Current Events, Greater Lowell, City Council 7 Comments

 Pawtucket Falls post card image /UML Center for Lowell History

The other day it was people from Lawrence weighing-in on the Enel North America plan to regulate the flow of water over the historic Pawtucket Falls with a pneumatic crest gate, or “inflatable bladder,”  installation system on the Pawtucket Dam. As noted in Jen Myers story in Monday’s Lowell Sun here –  two years ago, Enel installed crest gates at the Great Stone Dam in Lawrence,  a 162-year-old hydropower dam, with no controversy. Rather than opposition it was “bouquets and flowers.” Even those purporting to represent Lawrence history sided with Enel –  scoffingly noting that “the Stone Dam wasn’t an artifact. ”

Tonight according to a story in today’s Nashua Telegram written by David Brooks and available here –  there will be a hearing in Nashua on the Lowell dam proposal. As with the SUN story the position, the reasoning and spin of  Enel North America – the subsidiary of a global company – is well represented with extensive quotes from General Manager Victor Engel and addtionally from consultant Bob LaRochelle in the SUN piece. To the SUN “Engel concedes that his company’s relationship with Lowell is a little more rocky than with Lawrence.”

The Lowell City Council responding to “upstream” neighborhood concerns about raised river levels endangering their homes voted against the bladder  proposal. Prior approval is need by a number of Lowell city commissions before the project can move forward.  Leading the opposition is the Lowell National Historical Park.  Superintendent Michael Creasey recently wrote  a letter to the Massachusetts Board of Energy & Environmental Affairs noting that the plan “eliminates an essential feature characterizing the historic dam” and would “substantially change the historic appearance and functionality of this National Historic Landmark.” If you’ve taken the Lowell Mill and Canal Tour you know that the park uses the many canals in and around the dam as part of its water tours of the popular park which details the city’s Industrial Revolution past. The park is vested historically and financially in the Lowell story – and the Merrimack River and the Canalways are key to the story.  Many local groups concerned with history and preservation have also voiced concerns over the project.

So residents of Nashua and that part of Southern New Hampshire get to join the conversation tonight. Read both articles and stay tuned for more about the dam project. I was up  by the Pawtucket Falls and Dam today – and the new flashing is looking pretty good!

7 Responses to Hearing on Lowell’s Pawtucket Dam in Nashua NH Tonight

  1. deb forgione says:

    OUTRAGE and an unfair playing field. Mo Fayed from FERC flew in from Washington D.C. last night to ASSIST ENEL in their preentation.to NH, We were told by the Lowell City Solicitor that WE the City of Lowell and the reidents had to WAIT until WE were invited to respond when ENEL’s application is submitted. YET there is a traveling road show by ENEL and a media blitz.
    The residents were taken to task and lectured by Bill Maritin for pushing the vote to support the NPS last week. The residents have been fighting ENEL for 4 years and we know how they operate, We are GLAD we pushed that vote and we are still fighting. It is iinsulting how this City of Lowell and the residents have been treated by this international company. It is incomprehensible that we our fate will be dictated by NH or Lawrence. ENEL means business and it is about time to see they do not care what the City of Lowell and the residents think. Arrogance unlimited and the City should be offended

    Thank you Marie for putting this story out there.

  2. Jack Mitchell says:

    As we watch in horror, the Gulf Coast is ravaged by the mishandling of America’s natural resources by a private enterprise.

    In Lowell, we have a similar issue.

    The Merrimack River has been yoked to provide power, and profit. The consequences of the methods that Enel uses, arise with the floodwaters. Repeatedly, the people of Lowell are victim to the mismanagement of this enterprise.

    As we watch the struggle between the affected, our goverment institutions and BP; let’s be keen to learn some relevant lessons.

  3. Tim says:

    New Hampshire should be very concerned about this Proposed Crest Gate in Lowell.
    Due to design complexity the dam will take 3-5 years to complete. (Per Enel John Dollard)
    Water level will be 6′ lower for the duration of 3-5 years. (Per Enel John Dollard)
    Remember there is 5’ boards Enel wants to replace with a 5’ crest gate, but Enel is allowed to over top by 1’ of additional water before flashboards give partial failure to release water from the river and also other rivers and tributaries, ponds ect. If the crest gate goes right back to positions you still get the back up of the other streams lakes ponds ect. Pennechuck water has also been concerned about the drinking water for the month Enel was in violation of there FERC license and ordered to remove and reinstall there approved steel pins. Enel Legally was to have installed a 68,000 psi steel pin spaced on average 20” apart but not more than 6 pins per 8′ span. The illegal violation was that Enel had install a Hardened Steel pin that was 126,000 psi with pin spacing less than 20” apart and sections of 8′ panels having more than 16 pins per the 8′ panel. Pictures show it all. Enel disregard for home and business safety for an increased river height caused serious devastation along the Merrimack River. Enel has installed the New Crest gate in Lawrence and the effect is Enel has install a new flash board system atop the tailrace at there LOWELL POWER PLANT to keep the river from over topping there TAILRACE and reducing there head drop. Simply stating loss of power if water goes over the tailrace. This was only installed once the Lawrence dam had installed the crest gate. The other problem that had just recently come about this year is the Concord River. The Concord can not drain in to the Merrimack River as in previous year because the Merrimack River is being maintained a higher level from the newly installed Lawrence crest gate. The effect is that many homes and business that had not been flooded out since the 100 year flood in 1936. Even during the horrific 2006 & 2007 Floods this area was never affected.
    My last point is if this crest gate gets approval the water will be maintained dangerously close to the street elevations. The problem some areas face is the river water goes into our sewer system and causes a back up. The effect is we get raw sewage that flows into our homes. The second part is the city dumps raw sewage into the river. The city is installing a combined sewer overflow system (CSO) to handle some areas. But not areas can have this installed because the areas are to low. Please realize that your position effect many more people than just your town and that is why I am trying to explain the rest of the story.

  4. Tim says:

    Comment about FERC, EPA and all other agencies that have to aprove this crest gate.
    Maybe the city manager should call the inspector general office to find out why Enel has not been fined for dumping debris in a navigable water way wich is protected by federal legislation, raising water levels cousing our city sewers to back up and dump raw sewage into the river. Last why has FERC not properly instpected the dam. This city can not afford to loose any more homes or bussness!!! FYI Enel is trying to get there taxs lowered by neerly half! our city budget is based on there fair shair like the rest of us.If this happens all are taxs go up but Enels goes lower!

    Thanks richardhowe.com

  5. JoeS says:

    Technically, the bladder may be the most efficient method to control the dam. However, technology is always susceptible to failure when not applied properly, as the Gulf is living proof today. In any case, efficiency cannot be the only issue to be considered, much more important are the quality of life of the citizens that may be affected and the integrity of the dam to the history of the City. Enel (and apparently FERC) is willing to skip over those issues to solicit support far up-river.

    The NPS and the City of Lowell should combine their efforts to take over the dam and its canals by eminent domain and operate the system as an historical resource in the best interest of the citizens. The debt service and operating costs for the dam and canals can be paid by the lease cost of the water supplied to Enel for their power generators, but the dam would be historically preserved and the up-river basin would return to its prior level control.

  6. deb forgione says:

    The following from JoeS is a brilliant idea nd I hope the seriously consider your suggestion

    “The NPS and the City of Lowell should combine their efforts to take over the dam and its canals by eminent domain and operate the system as an historical resource in the best interest of the citizens. The debt service and operating costs for the dam and canals can be paid by the lease cost of the water supplied to Enel for their power generators, but the dam would be historically preserved and the up-river basin would return to its prior level control.