The project is expected to improve recreational access to the Farmington River and improve the habitat for fish and wildlife there.FARMINGTON, CT — An old, obsolete dam dating back to an early 1900s gristmill in the Farmington River is being demolished to improve recreation on the river.The Farmington River Watershed Association, which is based in Simsbury, said work to take down the dam by Princeton Hydro and RiverLogic started on Monday, Sept.8, with the project expected to take two weeks.Located near 1371 Farm...
The project is expected to improve recreational access to the Farmington River and improve the habitat for fish and wildlife there.
FARMINGTON, CT — An old, obsolete dam dating back to an early 1900s gristmill in the Farmington River is being demolished to improve recreation on the river.
The Farmington River Watershed Association, which is based in Simsbury, said work to take down the dam by Princeton Hydro and RiverLogic started on Monday, Sept.8, with the project expected to take two weeks.
Located near 1371 Farmington Ave., the dam site isn't too far from
According to the association, the dam no longer functions as a dam and, simply, impedes the flow of water.
It dates back to the early 20th century, "when it was the powerhouse of a booming grain business in Farmington," when "it may have been the first gristmill built on the Farmington River."
These days, however, the dam does nothing for the river or how recreation enthusiasts can enjoy it.
"Today, it is obsolete and restricts access to river recreationists and aquatic organisms," wrote the association. "By removing the dam, we intend to reduce local erosion and riverbank scour while eliminating hazards for river users."
The association, however, doesn't intend to just throw away the old dam's timbers.
Rather, it plans to "respect the historic value of this site by researching and repurposing existing timbers for historic preservation and educational purposes, and utilizing fill materials to recreate the scenic rapids at the site."
Perhaps best benefiting from the work, the association said, are the fish.
"Most importantly, we intend to enhance and restore habitat for fish that require access to small streams for food, thermal refuge, and spawning habitat," wrote the association.
According to the association, the project includes removing the timbers from the river and restoring the river location using rocks and boulders.
For more information on the project, click on the organization's Facebook page.