Flood Control: Birch Hill Dam LbNA #46618
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Apr 15, 2009 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Royalston |
| County: | Worcester |
| State: | Massachusetts |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | Time2Retire  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | Nairon |
| Last found: | Jun 24, 2020 |
| Status: | FFFFFFF |
| Last edited: | Apr 15, 2009 |
Birch Hill Dam is a flood control project of the US Army Corps of Engineers on the Millers River in central Massachusetts. Part of a system of flood control dams for the Connecticut River Valley, it was completed in 1941 at a cost of $4 million. It is used, along with the other dams in this system, to control the flow of water into the Connecticut. It is one of the first built in New England after the floods of 1936 and 1938. In April 1987, two storms dropped a total of 6 inches of rain onto a particularly deep snow cover. The run-off and snow melt filled the storage basin behind the dam to 80% capacity at over 33 feet. It is estimated that this prevented over $9 million in damage to the towns of Athol and Orange. There is a plaque on the wall of the inlet channel at the gate house to show the highwater mark. Comparing it to the water level at any other time, including ‘normal’ spring thaws is mind-boggling.
Before the dam could be constructed, the Boston & Maine Railroad had to be moved to higher ground. The entrance road to the dam is the old roadbed of the railroad and if you visit the dam when there is little water held behind it, you can see where the roadbed emerges from the other side of the dam. About 2/3 mile in on the entrance road, you’ll see the foundations of a signal structure for this original rail line.
The Birch Hill Dam is open to the public from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM on weekdays. The entrance is off of Rte. 68 in South Royalston. Since it is an old railroad grade, the entrance road makes a fine walking/bicycling path. There are also picnic tables available, both at the entrance and at the dam.
Warning: The railroad tracks next to the entrance road are ACTIVE! Do not trespass on these tracks! It is UNSAFE to do so!
Clues: At the entrance, there is a small parking area. Walk about 1/3 mile toward the dam on Birch Hill Dam Road. You’ll find another small parking area.
From this second parking area, walk about 55 adult paces back toward the entrance. You will see a path into the woods on your right.
Follow this path about 45 adult paces. Turn to your left and you will see a large dead pine tree with a lightning scar down its trunk.
Pointing to this tree as 12 o’clock, move your arm to almost 1 o’clock. Behind about 3 more slightly smaller trees, about 35 paces away, you will see an old fallen tree stump that almost looks a piece of driftwood you’d see in the picture of the Oregon coast in a calendar. Under this stump is the box covered by some sticks. Please re-hide carefully.
Before the dam could be constructed, the Boston & Maine Railroad had to be moved to higher ground. The entrance road to the dam is the old roadbed of the railroad and if you visit the dam when there is little water held behind it, you can see where the roadbed emerges from the other side of the dam. About 2/3 mile in on the entrance road, you’ll see the foundations of a signal structure for this original rail line.
The Birch Hill Dam is open to the public from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM on weekdays. The entrance is off of Rte. 68 in South Royalston. Since it is an old railroad grade, the entrance road makes a fine walking/bicycling path. There are also picnic tables available, both at the entrance and at the dam.
Warning: The railroad tracks next to the entrance road are ACTIVE! Do not trespass on these tracks! It is UNSAFE to do so!
Clues: At the entrance, there is a small parking area. Walk about 1/3 mile toward the dam on Birch Hill Dam Road. You’ll find another small parking area.
From this second parking area, walk about 55 adult paces back toward the entrance. You will see a path into the woods on your right.
Follow this path about 45 adult paces. Turn to your left and you will see a large dead pine tree with a lightning scar down its trunk.
Pointing to this tree as 12 o’clock, move your arm to almost 1 o’clock. Behind about 3 more slightly smaller trees, about 35 paces away, you will see an old fallen tree stump that almost looks a piece of driftwood you’d see in the picture of the Oregon coast in a calendar. Under this stump is the box covered by some sticks. Please re-hide carefully.