MONSON — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking community input on recommended changes to the Conant Brook Dam Master Plan during the month of August as the organization continues to work on its revision of the plan.
The revision process is targeted at updating the plan in order to make it complaint with current regulations following changes to the model of a standard master plan in recent years, stated Eric Irwin, Regional Planning and Environmental Center Program lead for the US Army Corps of Engineers.
He told Reminder Publishing that the Conant Brook Dam Master Plan is one of multiple similar plans that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was working to update with possible changes including modified land classifications, utility corridors and resource objectives.
Last updated in 1998, the Conant Brook Dam Master Plan sets resource management objectives and land use classifications through a 25-year guide to protect the natural environment, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stated. The dam was first constructed in 1964 to manage flood risk and is situated on 471 acres, storing a maximum of 1.2 billion gallons. Today, the property is also used for recreation and wildlife management.
The entire revision process takes about 18-24 months. It begins with an initial data collection before the first round of public comment. A draft revised plan is then created followed by a second public comment period and the plan’s finalization, Irwin explained.
The process is currently within the first public comment period, which began on July 31 with the organization’s open house at Monson Free Library. Each comment period is open for 30 days, Irwin said.
Once the draft is complete, the organization will hold the second comment period in approximately one year based on the draft revised master plan. The final master plan is anticipated to be approved in December 2026, the organization stated.
Comments can be submitted through email, letter or through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website by choosing to use either the standard comment form or sending a written comment. To submit a comment by letter, send the completed comment form to USACE Conant Brook Dam, c/o East Brimfield Dam, Attn: Project Manager Keith Beecher, 24 Riverview Ave., Fiskdale, MA 01518.
General comments or comment forms can also be emailed to conantbrookmasterplan@usace.army.mil.
For more information about the master plan process or to download a comment form, visit nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Conant-Brook-Dam/Conant-Brook-Dam-Master-Plan. Comments must be submitted by Aug. 31.
Volunteers needed
In addition to public comment on the master plan, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is also looking for volunteers to help support operations at Conant Brook Dam, such as addressing resident concerns and managing daily needs of the area, Project Manager Keith Beecher said.
For residents interested in volunteering, he recommended visiting volunteer.gov/s to search and select a volunteer opportunity that residents are most interested in joining. Opportunities are available across the country.
