Mill River Greenway Initiative

A community-based steward for the Mill River

Northampton

June 1st Launch of MRGI’s First Riverwalk Brochure — Paradise Pond to Old South St.

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Come help us launch the first of MRGI’s series of self-guided historic riverwalks, this one from Paradise Pond on the Smith College campus to Old South Street in downtown Northampton.  You will be walking through more than 350 years of history on this riverwalk, which focuses on the centers of Northampton’s early industries as well as the history of the river itself.

John Sinton, MRGI’s co-moderator, will lead the tour, which includes stops at early mill sites, at the 1940 diversion, then a walk alongside the former bed of the “Hidden Mill River” and an endpoint where the first bridge across the Mill was built in the 17th century.

Everyone will get a copy of the beautiful brochure with its map and text, along with historic maps and photos.

Time & Date: 10:00-11:30  Saturday, June 1st

Meeting Place: The Boathouse across from the Greenhouse on Paradise Pond

Heavy rain cancels the event.

Draining Paradise Pond

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Paradise Pond Drawdown #1 Oct. 2012

Paradise Pond Drawdown 2

Paradise Pond Drawdown #2 Oct. 2012

Paradise Pond Drawdown 1

Paradise Pond Dam Face #1 Oct. 2012

Paradise Pond Dam 2

Paradise Pond Dam Face Oct. 2012 #2

Paradise Pond Dam 1

 

Several people have asked, “What’s happening at  Smith College’s Paradise Pond?”  Here is the answer from our most knowledgeable source, Gary Hartwell, Smith College’s  Project Manager.

The Pond has been “partially” drawn down to repair the earthen portion of the dam which runs from the spillway upstream 800′ to the throwing field. There will be no dredging at this time, but we have just started planning for the next dredging project. We’re anticipating permits in summer 2014.

Work specifications:  Approx. 300′ (in the middle, on the curve) will be excavated down 12′ and replaced with engineered soils. The entire length will be re-shaped and armored with 1.5′ crushed stone to about 18″ above normal pool.

Elevations in feet above sea level:
top of flashboards – 135.7 (normal pool)
top of earthen dam – 141.5 to 143 (Irene crest 140.5)
depth of excavation – 131
top of new dam – 143
current dam slope (Pond side) – 1:1 and steeper
dam slope after repair – 3:1
bottom of new stone armor 130.7
top of new stone armor 137.0

Vote on Northampton’s Community Preservation Act

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Northampton Residents to Vote Whether to Repeal the Community Preservation Act on November 1st.

There will be a single referendum question on Northampton’s election ballot this November 1st: The question is whether Northampton should repeal the Community Preservation Act (CPA).  A “no” vote will allow the CPA to continue, and a “yes” vote will repeal the CPA.
Proponents of  “Vote NO” to Save the CPA,” point to the program’s successes: It has
protected hundreds of acres of open space, preserved
some of important historical landmarks and has supported the
construction of new recreation fields and affordable housing. In addition, the CPA has brought millions of dollars to our city — the $3.8 million the city collected in CPA funds have been matched by over $17 million from other sources.

Opponents state that residents of the city already pay too many taxes.

For more information: http://www.northamptonma.gov/cpc/

For a map of all CPA projects: http://www.northamptonma.gov/cpc/googlemap/index.html

 

Look Park Pond Dredging Meeting

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Folks, there’s a meeting today, June 23 at 3:00 at Look Park to visit the Corps of Engineers dredging site at Willow Park.  Here is the contents of the email from the Corps’s contact, John Sargent:

…we are planning to have a site walk with the park staff and the con com on June 23 at 3 pm at Look Park.    The purpose of the meeting would be to gather additional information to include talk of dredging alternatives, impacts to coldwater fisheries in the river, and other issues that have been raised.  The con com will have a public hearing following the site meeting where the Corps representatives will be present as well.

We will follow up this post as the things unfold.