Webinar Description:
Known to the Nipmucs as “Kittacuck” and to the Narragansett as Mishkittakooksepe, both meaning Great Tidal River, the Blackstone River hasn’t been tidal in nearly 250 years, with 20 dams remaining on the mainstem’s 48 miles. But advocates are working to change that… This webinar will provide an overview of the status of dam removal and aquatic connectivity work within the Blackstone watershed, including current research on hydrology and barriers, priorities for connectivity, considerations of trade-offs, and decision support tools available. Plus, an overview of MassDER resources related to dam removal and ecological restoration.
Presenters:
Stefanie Covino, Executive Director, Blackstone Watershed Collaborative
Emily Vogler, Principal, Commonplace Landscape & Planning / Associate Professor, Rhode Island School of Design
Joseph Gould, Ecological Restoration Specialist, Mass Division of Ecological Restoration
Resources:
- Powerpoint Presentation “Restoring Kittacuck: Reconnecting the River that Powered America’s Industrial Revolution“
- Powerpoint Presentation “Dam Removal and Ecological Restoration” (Mass DER)
- Dam Atlas: https://thedamatlas.org (in the process of rebuilding the website, so please check it again this fall)
- Mass DER Dam Removal: https://www.mass.gov/river-restoration-dam-removal