This page is to provide information and updates to the public regarding the Watershops Dam Project. Questions or comments should be directed to Tina Quagliato Sullivan at tquagliato@springfieldcityhall.com
Las preguntas o inquietudes en español pueden enviarse por correo electrónico a Julisa-Davila Ramos a JDavila-Ramos@springfieldcityhall.com
City officials intend to present the planned Watershops Dam Project to the Springfield Parks Commission on July 16, 2020 at 3:30 p.m. This is a public meeting and the public may view and access this presentation via zoom, through the information below:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://gza.zoom.us/j/9888347763
Meeting ID: 988 834 7763
Password: 726872
Find your local number: https://gza.zoom.us/u/adTVHaR6h0
On June 15, 2020, the City filed an Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). Public notice of the EENF was provided in The Environmental Monitor on June 24 and in the legal ads section of the Springfield Republican in the June 24 edition (see attached copy of the legal ad). The EENF provides a full description of the Project, its potential for environmental impacts, and proposed mitigation for any unavoidable impacts. State agencies that must issue permits and approvals will use the MEPA review process to assess the Project’s overall environmental impacts and proposed mitigation of unavoidable impacts. The project requires MEPA review through a Mandatory Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The City has requested a Waiver from the requirement to prepare a mandatory EIR or, alternately, approval to prepare a Single EIR.
This public presentation has been prepared by the City of Springfield Office of Disaster Recovery, Office of Capital Asset Construction and the City's consultant GZA Geoenvironmental, Inc. The presentation provides background information on the planned resilience upgrade projects to the Watershops Dam, history of the dam and Watershops Pond and understanding of the funding sources. All members of the public and abutters to Watershops Pond are encouraged to watch the video. All questions and comments may be directed to tquagliato@springfieldcityhall.com.
The City has recently filed an Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) for the Project, pursuant to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). That document includes a detailed description of the Project, an alternatives analysis, and an evaluation of potential environmental impacts and mitigation for those impacts. You can view this document by clicking on the heading above this paragraph.