Norwich Reservoir Dam Removal

Norwich, Vermont

The Norwich Reservoir Dam was a run-of-the-river, cyclopean gravity dam located on the Charles Brown Brook. The dam formerly impounded a reservoir, but had has no function and caused significant negative impacts to the brook and to downstream reaches. DuBois & King developed removal design to meet the objectives of restoring AOP and the natural functions of Charles Brown Brook through the reach occupied by the obsolescent dam and infilled impoundment.

The reach of the brook above the dam silted in and became a wetland, such that no aquatic organism passage was possible. As a part of the removal design, the project team chose to remove the high-nutrient silt in the impoundment. Services included topographic survey, wetland delineation, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, geomorphic assessment, regulatory coordination (with the Army Corps of Engineers, State Dam Safety Program, and State Wetlands Program), and community outreach.