WEST BOYLSTON, Mass. — Crews broke ground on a dam removal project more than a decade in the making in West Boylston on Monday.

What You Need To Know

  • A groundbreaking ceremony was held Monday in West Boylston as crews began demolition of the Quinapoxet Dam

  • Built in 1905, the dam helped support the Wachusett Reservoir, but has since become obsolete

  • The dam's removal will benefit local fish and other wildlife

  • The dam is expected to be removed by mid-December

The Quinapoxet Dam, built in 1905, helped support the Wachusett Reservoir, but over the years, upgrades to local water systems have made the 250-foot horseshoe dam’s presence more of a nuisance than an asset.

John Gregoire, a senior program manager for Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, further explained the dam’s original purpose during a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday.

“This dam was designed to basically control sediment from getting into the reservoir,” Gregoire said. “Back in the day, they knew that quality water wasn’t good to drink, but they didn’t have a lot of ways of testing it. So they had this very rudimentary method of taking the sediment out.”

The dam has also seen plenty of wear and tear in its nearly 120 years in existence, and estimated repairs would have been costly.

Tom O’Shea, the commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, said removing it will also help local wildlife.

“A lot of these dams are causing problems by interrupting wildlife and fish passage,” O’Shea said. “This is just going to be amazing to see the possibilities of opening up a dam, and the possibility for salmon, trout and other species to move up and down this river.”

Monday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the dam’s removal will be followed by a busier timeline from November to next April, when the water flow is turned off for winter.

Beth Lambert, the director of the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, said the work will also include building a new fishing platform which will help more people experience the natural beauty of the Quinapoxet River.

“Going forward, whether you’re someone who uses a wheelchair, someone who uses a walker, or someone who uses your feet, someone who’s pushing a baby carriage, all people of all ages will be able to come here and experience nature and fishing,” Lambert said.

The dam removal portion of the project is expected to be complete by mid-December.