Failing Becker Pond Dam To Be Removed
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| Failing Becker Pond Dam (right) with now-closed bridge overhead (left and right). Courtesy The Nature Conservancy. |
MOUNT WASHINGTON, Mass. — The nearly 100-year-old Becker Pond Dam that is failing and deemed a public safety concern will be removed.
The dam is located in the Nature Conservancy's 1,500-acre Mount Plantain Preserve.
Closed to the public since 2016, the 95-foot earthen embankment dam will now be removed, beginning in November 2025, and eventually a new, improved walking trail will provide access there.
The Becker Pond Dam is located on an unnamed stream that flows into Sage's Ravine, a popular walking and hiking area in Sheffield in the Southern Berkshires, that empties into Schenob Brook. The Appalachian Trail crosses about one mile downstream from the brook. An old deteriorating wooden bridge crosses over the dam as well.
Environmental leaders are pleased about the long-planned dam removal.
"It's a win-win for nature, and for all the people who hunt, hike, ski, walk, and use this beautiful area in the Berkshires with a safer, improved trail and access," said Karen Lombard, The Nature Conservancy's (TNC) Director of Stewardship and Restoration.
She will be part of a webinar on Wednesday, Oct. 8 (Global Dam Removal Day) at 7 p.m. to discuss the Becker Pond Dam project. Register here for the webinar.
After a 2016 inspection found serious deficiencies in the dam's stability, the dam area was closed to the public. One of the walls is cracked and detaching from the dam's main core, causing it to be a serious hazard to hikers and hunters who frequent that recreational area, adjacent to the Mount Washington State Forest and south of the YMCA Camp High Rock.
The Nature Conservancy has been working with the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game's Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) to permit, fund and remove the dam. Once complete, Lombard said the hope is that the cold-water stream will be restored as a vital habitat for brook trout. A new, higher quality trail will also be built in the vicinity.
"We are proud to partner with The Nature Conservancy on this important project," said DER Director Beth Lambert. "By removing the Becker Pond Dam, we are restoring a healthy, free-flowing, coldwater stream. This isn't just about taking a structure out; it's about giving fish and other wildlife the space they need to survive and adapt during a warming climate. Investing in these projects is one of the most effective ways we can protect the biodiversity of Massachusetts for future generations."
TNC's new Massachusetts State Director Kris Sarri said: "This project demonstrates The Nature Conservancy's commitment to restoring natural habitats. Removing this dam reconnects the river and reopens pathways for native fish to migrate and spawn. Dam removal also reduces flooding risks to people and allows more diverse wildlife to thrive throughout the river system—creating healthier communities and habitats for generations to come."
Funding for removal of the dam has been provided by the MA Division of Ecological Restoration, the Massachusetts Environmental Trust and two anonymous foundations.
