This week’s groundbreaking ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park in Marshfield was a true reflection of the process itself. It has taken over 10 years and collaboration between multiple parties for this dam removal project to get to this point, and many of those stakeholders were represented at Wednesday’s ceremony. We are grateful for our partners at MassBays, Town of Marshfield, Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, Marshfield Veterans and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for working tirelessly to bring this project to life.
By removing the Veterans Memorial Park Dam and replacing it with a nature like fishway, we will reconnect the South River from the ocean to the freshwater and support our native fisheries. At the same time, the Town will make needed upgrades and improvements to features in the park that honor the Town’s esteemed Veterans, including an ADA accessible pathway overlooking the South River. This was not an accident and it took multiple meetings, designs and hard work from everyone involved to find a solution that would both benefit the environment and the local community.
We have heard concerns about how this site will look after the dam is removed, and what will happen to the iconic water wheel and heart-shaped lagoon. As you can see from the photo below, this section of the park will look fairly similar after the removal of the dam. Instead of a dam, there will be a series of shallow step-like riffles made of stone that will allow for fish passage. At the same time, the design allows for water from the South River to be held back in order to keep the lagoon filled. A groundwater cistern will also be built to feed the lagoon and the water wheel during low flow periods and while allowing the river to have the water it will need to support the wildlife in it.
It’s rare these days to find groups with two disparate goals agreeing on one project, and it was inspiring to hear how representatives from the Town are just as excited about the improvements to the park as we are about restoring the river to a more natural state. We are so proud of the work that is about to begin at Veterans Memorial Park and we look forward to sharing this process with you through our social media posts and future eNews.