Letter From a Concerned Citizen to Office of Dam Safety
September 27,2008
Mr. William Salomaa, Director, Office of Dam Safety
Engineering Division
Department of Conservation and Recreation
251 Causeway Street Suite 700
Boston, MA 02114-2104,
Re: Regulation 302 CMR 10.00 Dam Safety, Section 10.08 Compliance with Inspection Results, Paragraph (7)
Dear Mr. Salomaa,
We ask your consideration in interpreting the intent of the Commonwealth's Dam Safety Regulations as they apply to Manchaug Pond, MA ID 00955, in Sutton and Douglas MA. The referenced paragraph (7) reads as follows: "When the spillway capacity of the existing dam does not meet stated criteria a relative impact analysis may be required to be performed by the owner. This analysis will address such factors as: downstream impact area; capacity and/or condition of outlet work(s); overtopping potential; operation plans; consideration of incremental impacts of possible failure; and emergency action plans. Upon review and approval by the Commissioner, a reduction in the standard design flood may be allowed to such a dam".
We would appreciate your help in determining if such a reduction in the standard design flood may be allowed to Manchaug Fond. The Manchaug Pond impoundment is considered to be a high-hazard dam while the next downstream dam is only considered to be a significant-hazard dam. Hence, the hazard classification is apparently based entirely upon overtopping of the roadway forming the crest of the dam. Even using the most conservative data that we have available, failure (and subsequent loss of life to motorist driving over the roadway) is not certain, and no detailed data exists clearly showing that enough depth of floodwaters will be evident to cause failure of the roadway.
Regards,
Name:__________________________________ Date:_________________________
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