Town Plans Puffer’s Pond Restoration
Aerial view of Puffer's Pond. Photo: amherstma.gov
The Town of Amherst was awarded a $250,000 grant from the Massachusetts Dam and Seawall Repair Program for design and repair of the dam and dike at Puffer’s Pond. The existing dam and dike keeping Puffer’s Pond in place are both high-hazard structures and in need of repairs due to vegetation growth, erosion, and structural vulnerabilities.
Funding from this grant will be used to hire an engineering firm specializing in dam repairs to conduct multiple assessments, design plans, and pursue permitting through state and federal agencies. Once the project design and permitting are complete the Town will seek additional funding to execute the repairs.
Built in the 1890s to provide power to mill operations, the 32-foot-high dam spans the width of the Mill River and provides a picturesque waterfall in all seasons. The dike is a 4-foot-high earthen embankment structure that was constructed at a low point along what is now the normal pool shoreline. The actual date of the dike’s construction is not known, but it likely coincided with the dam’s construction to maintain power-generating water levels in the pond. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Office of Dam Safety lists both structures as needing maintenance and repairs.
The dam and dike repair will be the first phase in a larger project to restore, protect, and enhance ecologically sensitive areas of the pond as well as make the site more accessible and safe for all to enjoy. These efforts will allow the Town to support and expand the dedicated use of this regionally significant place while also achieving the conservation goals for the area. Ultimately, the project aims to ensure the long-term health and vitality of the pond as a vital community resource for generations to come.
Proposed Improvements
The proposed project will result in improvements to public safety, environmental conditions, water quality, aesthetics, and access to recreational opportunities. Project activities will also help reduce flood risk and protect downstream communities, and promote positive mental and physical health through equitable access to nature.
There have been multiple repairs and improvements identified that the Town hopes to accomplish through this ongoing project including:
- Dam and dike repairs
- Trail restoration
- Removal of excess sediment accumulation
- Replenished beaches
- Installation of boardwalks and viewing platforms
- Addition of kayak and canoe slide
- Improvements to parking, traffic safety, and ADA accessibility
The vision plan can be viewed here.
Share Your Thoughts
A virtual meeting was held on February 10, but apparently was not recorded. This project includes a variety of ideas to improve Puffer’s Pond, but they are not final plans. The town wants public input to help guide the future of Puffer’s Pond.
Feedback can be submitted through the Puffer’s Pond Project Feedback Form.
There is a lot of work to be done to care for this heavily used, deteriorating town gem. Is $250,000 going to cover the work outlined? Could some of the proposed work (e.g.: refurbishing trails) be handled by crews of volunteers? Will the proposed work require temporarily closing Puffer’s for dam repairs and sediment removal? Also puzzling: No mention of repairing the road to Puffer’s? Its a mess, even by Amherst’s standards.