Dam area to be closed; MWRA to rebuild spillway, making it off limits for months.

Byline: Karen Nugent

CLINTON - Much of the area around the Wachusett Dam will be off limits to the public for several months, as work is scheduled to start next month on the replacement of the spillway at the dam and reservoir - along with a few other updates. The spillway portion of the project is expected to be completed by October.

Tiffany Tran, a project manager for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, which has jurisdiction over the dam and reservoir, told selectmen last night there will be no public access during construction to most of the North Dike, behind the schools, and to sides of the spillway, Arch Bridge, and the area directly at the base of the dam - including two sets of stone steps popular for workouts.

Only Gate 39, off Route 110, will be open to the public. Gates 40 and 41 will be closed, with Gate 40 to be used for construction vehicles and the Clinton public works and police and fire departments.

The area at the far end of the base of the 150-foot dam, near Cumberland Farms, along with a small road leading in, will remain open.

The wooden spillway allows excess water from the reservoir to run off.

Ms. Tran said the project involves removing and replacing "old rickety planks" with a hydraulic motorized gate, building an auxiliary spillway, and putting in a new road to get to the gate, which will be 100 feet long and five feet high.

There will be blasting of rock in a limited area beside the new spillway, she said.

Ms. Tran said the project is required because of new federal regulations pertaining to flood protection, and has nothing to do with a cleanup of PCB-contaminated soil discovered earlier this year at the base of the dam. The PCBs came from caulking used on concrete planks on the walkway above the dam that leaked during rainstorms. The soil removal and replacement is a separate MWRA project, Ms. Tran said.

A similar spillway replacement project at the Quabbin Reservoir will begin after the Wachusett project is completed, she said, with all work at the Wachusett expected to be done this year, and the Quabbin project to take another year or so.

The Wachusett Reservoir, built at the turn of the last century, provides public drinking water from the Quabbin for most of Metropolitan Boston. Clinton also draws its water from the Wachusett.

John M. Scannell, Wachusett superintendent, said the water level in the reservoir would be dropped by 2 feet, from 392 to 390, and a berm will be built along the retaining wall to be able to contain a maximum flood level of 400 feet. The reservoir water level will be dropped to 388 feet during construction, and there will be fewer discharges over the spillway.

In an ironic note, the selectmen earlier in the meeting approved a liquor license transfer for a new bar, to be called "The Spillway." However, the bar, the former Jack's, is

at 212 High St., and not near the dam. It will be owned and managed by Kerrie Carnes Salwa, a former member of the Planning Board, and her husband, Seth Salwa.

The board also approved a liquor license for the Bigelow Grill, 490 Main St., near the old Buck Chair Co., to be managed by Joseph E. Lemanski. The license was formerly held by the now closed Talk of the Town at 541 Main St.

They also approved a liquor license for a new Italian restaurant at 27 High St., owned by A. Michael Ernst.

NAME: CLINTON SELECTMEN

ART: PHOTO

CUTLINE: Water courses through the spillway after heavy rains in April 2000.

PHOTOG: T&G File Photo/RICK CINCLAIR