NOAA Letter in Support of Dam Removal

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service

NOAA Restoration Center

55 Great Republic Drive

Gloucester, MA 01930-2276

February 3, 2021

Katherine Marple, Chairman

Durham Town Council

8 Newmarket Road

Durham, NH 03824

Re: Mill Pond Dam Removal Feasibility Study

Dear Ms. Marple:

As you are aware the NOAA Restoration Center provided funding for the 2010 preliminary feasibility study which evaluated options to remove the Mill Pond Dam on the Oyster River. Since that time I have been periodically following the additional efforts and discussions by the Town of Durham to determine how they will proceed with addressing outstanding issues and opportunities with this dam. I have reviewed the most recent engineering work completed by VHB on behalf of the town and listened in on the public hearing which took place in January 11th, 2021.

The interests by NOAA are to protect and restore aquatic resources in the Oyster River including but not limited to river herring, rainbow smelt and tidal wetlands. From our perspective, the option to remove the dam would be most beneficial to aquatic marine resources and we encourage the Town to strongly consider this option. We do understand that there are a wide variety of economic, aesthetic, and other issues that need to be balanced at the local level, but we feel that removal of the dam is a viable option.

There are an increasing number of federal grants sources than can support coastal resiliency, aquatic restoration and addressing aging infrastructure. If the town choses to proceed with the alternative to remove the Mill Pond dam there are potentially technical and financial services that NOAA could provide to assist further with this project.

Please feel free to contact me at 978-281-9313 if you have any questions about this letter or NOAA's interests in the project.

Sincerely,

Eric Hutchins

Aquatic Restoration Specialist