Conservation Panel Accepts Completed Dam Removal

Conservation · Meeting of April 6, 2026

West Boylston's Conservation Commission voted to accept the completed removal of an aging Quinapoxet River dam and continued an unresolved wetlands violation hearing. A project representative told the commission the roughly 100-year-old dam had been obsolete and was removed with state and federal support, with firm SLR handling design and Davey Resource Group monitoring regrowth for three years under an Army Corps of Engineers permit. "This is definitely a one-of-a-kind project for us since we are usually working on pipelines and facilities," the representative said.

Separately, the commission continued a hearing into a property owner, identified as Bunzel, who expanded a parking lot roughly 15 feet into a wetlands or riverfront area without approval; the state Department of Environmental Protection had already flagged the violation. The commission reported a $13,056 account balance and scheduled a site visit for Friday at 3 p.m., with a final vote expected May 4.

In the full story:

• The complete report — 755 words

Source: the Conservation meeting of April 6, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.