February 7, 2003
By Nancy Comeau
WHITEFIELD; Approximately 30 residents filled Whitefield's town office on Monday night, Feb. 3, to hear Jonathan Bergin of the John's River Conservation Group (JRCG) present findings from the group's research on the quality of the John's River as a fisheries resource.
Though the town voted last March to rehabilitate the breeched dam on the river, JRCG has submitted a petitioned warrant article for this year's town meeting that asks the townspeople to suspend the rehabilitation of the downtown John's River dam for one year. "We are a group of trout enthusiasts and are a 100 percent volunteer, non-profit organization" said Mr. Bergin, "We are offering to provide service to collect more data on the John's River watershed in the upcoming year at no costs to the town." Not everyone attending the informational meeting was receptive to JRCG's proposal to review the information on which the town's decision had been made.
Dick Mallion, chairman of Whitefield's conservation commission, didn't allow Mr. Bergin to get through the introduction to his presentation before he gave vocal protest. "There doesn't appear to be any new information here" said Mr. Mallion, "We heard all this last year. I was in favor of taking the dam out last year, but the town made a decision to rebuild it, so let's move on."
Mr. Bergin explained that if given the chance to present it, he did indeed have new data that hasn't been available previously.
At last year's town meeting, a report was presented from a two- month environmental impact study conducted in the winter months by Normandeau Associates, Inc.
"At town meeting,",said Ken Jordan, chairman of the board of selectmen, "the question was asked about the environmental impact the removal or rebuilding of the dam would have on the river. If I remember correctly we were told that there would not be a significant difference between the two choices."
Mr. Bergin said that he had spent last summer working with N.H. Fish & Game fisheries biologist Dianne Emerson to conduct a full season creel study of species in the river above and below the dam site. The study also involved collection of dissolved oxygen, pH, and temperature levels. "I regret that I did not have this information last year"; said Mr. Bergin. He added that this data was not available to Normandeau Associates at the time of their study.
Previous to the study conducted last summer (2002)," said Ms. Emerson, "nobody had gathered data in the impoundment area. A further study above and below the dam site is important. We don't have any data on it."
Mr. Bergin pointed out that the Normandeau study had recommended that "future endeavors could include fish sampling within the impoundment and seasonal water quality data both downstream and within the impoundment could be conducted to further identify the environmental parameters associated with the dam and impoundment."
"There is evidence that wild trout are in the river," said Ms. Emerson. "Further studies will provide a baseline for the future."
Mr. Bergin reiterated that JRCG's intent is only to ask that the rehabilitation of the dam be suspended for one year so that more information can be presented to the townspeople.
"I wish I had been told last year that the study had been based on very little data," said Ken Russell, Whitefield's town moderator.
Mr. Bergin informed the group that JRCG had received a $5,000 grant to conduct further watershed assessment studies within the river system. The group has hired the natural resource consulting firm, Watershed to Wildlife, to perform those studies. John Severance, a partner in Watershed to Wildlife, said that the study would involve analysis of the river's riparian buffer, riverbank erosion, beaver dams, and data collection of significant areas by GPS and digital photography. "This will give the town a baseline for the health and condition of various aspects of the river,"said Mr. Severance.
The engineering firm, SFC Engineering Partnership Inc., has been working with the town since 2001 to create costs estimates for the removal or rehabilitation of the dam. Last year, the townspeople voted to spend SFC's estimated cost of $595,000 to rebuild the dam.
"We have everything ready to go to the state for permitting," said Ray Cowan, SFC, "and we are ready to advertise for bids for the reconstruction of the dam."
"I spoke with David Barnes (bond counsel)," said Judy Ramsdell, Whitefield's administrative assistant. "He said we cannot sit on the money forever, but a one year suspension would be okay." According to Mrs. Ramsdell, if the suspension article passes muster this year, the town would need to include a warrant article next year to remove the dam if the study shows that a free flowing river would enhance fish habitat. The article would need a two-thirds majority vote to pass; if the article failed then the town would proceed with rehabilitation of the dam as voted on in 2002.
David Dean, river steward for the Connecticut River Watershed Council, (CRWC) has also been working with JRCG. Mr. Dean said that all across the country dam removal has increased. According to Mr. Dean, the $3 million mitigation enhancement fund from the 15-Mile Falls settlement has targeted dam removal as its highest priority when considering awarding grant funds for river restoration projects. "There are numerous funding sources,"; said Mr. Dean, "that facilitate the removal of barriers in rivers. There's a new awareness for the environmental benefits of free flowing water and river restoration. The funding is out there." He added that the federal government is implementing required changes in dam construction, which include mandated fish passage through or around impoundment structures.
Mr. Bergin asked the Whitefield selectmen to give serious consideration in supporting the warrant article that JRCG has submitted to the town.