Keyes-Parker Dam Removal and Culvert Replacement

Sucker Brook flows through the Keyes-Parker Conservation Area in Pepperell, Massachusetts, connecting to the Nissitisset, Nashua, and Merrimack Rivers. Horsley Witten Group supported the Town and MassDER in restoring stream continuity, improving aquatic habitat, and replacing outdated infrastructure within this important conservation site.

Opportunity

A 1930s stone dam in the conservation area no longer served a practical purpose and created a barrier to brook trout and other fish. The dam also affected water quality, habitat conditions, and natural sediment movement. Upstream, an undersized three-foot culvert beneath the access road further restricted fish passage and degraded stream function.

Solution

HW evaluated, designed, permitted, and oversaw construction of a coordinated dam removal, stream restoration, and culvert replacement project. The replacement structure—a 20-foot-wide by 6-foot-high box culvert—meets Massachusetts Stream Crossing Standards and supports improved fish and wildlife passage.

Results

In 2021 construction was complete. Since then, Sucker Brook and its associated wetland floodplain have returned to more naturalized conditions, supporting a healthier and more vibrant ecosystem. To date, it is one of the fastest dam removal project from initial study to construction.