Pawtuxet River Dam Removal Project Slideshow

The lower Pawtuxet River Restoration Project planning happened in 2010 with the beginning of the restoration beginning in late spring of 2011. For eons before industrialization the river flowed freely throughout Rhode Island eventually flowing over bedrock into Narragansett Bay. When industrialization took a foothold on the rivers’ edge dams were built and used to power textile mills and public utilities such as city water. As many of us know, dams are not friendly to their environment. The Pawtuxet River Authority plus the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program officials, assisted by state, federal and local partners put forth a plan of action that would restore the mouth of the Pawtuxet river, where it meets bedrock, to its original natural terraine. As someone who lives on the rivers edge, I must say, the only life I have observed over the past years was a turtle or two and a few parenting swans with their signets. Many a time I stood on the Pawtuxet River bridge on Broad Street staring into the waters looking into some signs of life which I never discovered. Not until I attended an informational hearing on the dam removal project did I realize the impact that dams have on the natural life occurring within a river’s eco-system. The proposal was to removal the concrete spillway allowing the water to flow over a more gentle bedrock foundation where at high tide passage from the mouth of the bay to the mouth of the river would be unobstructed. The river would be restored to its natural free flowing manner with the intent of returning the natural fish and wildlife habitat to the river itself. Planners said the river would see the return of shad and herring which would attract osprey and other wildlife that would normally exist in this type of environment.

So, in mid-summer 2011 the men and heavy equipment arrived storing their machinery in the back of Hunter’s garage. A large crane hoisted and lowered the backhoes and various equipment onto a small ledge by the concrete falls itself. It seems so odd to see men waist high treading the waters above and below the falls while they draped material to catch debris as the falls were hammered and chiseled away. Each day I would walk down to the river, camera in hand, and take a few photographs of the progress being made. The bridge sidewalks were never vacant as visitors and local residents took time to watch the restoration. It was amazing to see a backhoe hammering what appeared to be an extremely “hard” solid dam. Piece by piece an opening was made to the left side of the dam, as you are looking at it, which enabled the river to lower itself through its opening. Once the river lowered the men and equipment were able to move less restrictively to whatever position they needed to be in. Large slabs of steel which looked to me to be approximately 12 – 15′ wide by 3 – 5′ high were put in place to hold back the river in front of the area where the dam was being removed. Day by day a section of the dam disappeared until finally the all the concrete that made up the dam was removed from the river and stored again at the rear of Hunters’. Finally, in late summer, the project was completed.

Over the upcoming months native plants were planted along the shore of the river above the falls. In the spring of 2012 shad was reintroduced in the upper regions of the river while native plantings continued throughout the spring and summer. This past summer I have seen more than once an Osprey perched on a tree limb then dive directly into the waters of the river hunting its’ food. Isn’t it amazing how life is so resilient. Once left to what would be its natural environment it will find a way to thrive and replenish. Early in September while walking across the bridge I stopped to watch a fisherman in his boat fishing just at the area where the river comes out from under the bridge flowing towards the bay. Within a period of fifteen minutes he caught three striped bass one appeared to be a keeper. He did release all he caught. It amazed me watching this happen in this small historic community. I was born in Pawtucket and lived in Cranston and E. Providence. Never have I felt attached to an area where I lived until residing in Pawtuxet Village. “This is home.”

As I was saying earlier, I would mosey down to the bridge on most days and take a photo or two of the progress being made. In the end I found I had all these photos which when viewed told a story. To view this slide-show titled ” Pawtuxet Village Dam Removal Project ” simply click on the link that follows. I hope you find the show informative and enjoyable. When the slideshow begins move your curser over the show and click on the four arrows at the end to enlarge to full screen. To get out of the full screen mode press “Esc key”.