Newton Dam In Serious Need Of Repairs

NEWTON, MA — Mayor Ruthanne Fuller is calling on the City Council to authorize repairs to Bullough’s Pond Dam.

The dam, located at the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Walnut Street in Newton Centre, was deemed to be in poor condition by the state’s Office of Dam Safety in 2018. Due to the dam’s condition, Fuller said that Newtonville is in danger of flooding in the event of significant rainfall.

“The failure of the dam could result in not only substantial property and infrastructure damage, such as the loss of Dexter Road at the dam, but also loss of life,” Fuller said.

The town hired GEI Consultants to develop potential solutions to the issue. The firm initially proposed nine different options, but it has since been married down to three. Fuller expressed an official endorsement for the method known as Downeast Erosion Protection, which provides armor to the slope to minimize erosion caused by water. The other two options, known as Steel Sheet Pile Wall and Raised Core Wall, would be more intrusive processes as well as be less likely to be effective long-term, Fuller argued.

The ODS issued a formal request for an update from the city earlier this year. If Newton does not respond soon, it could be subject to fines and other penalties. The City Council is slated to discuss and possibly vote on a solution during its meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 2.