CONCORD, Mass. – The city of Northampton Department of Public Works is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to conduct work in waters of the U.S. to place fill material to stabilize eroding river banks in Northampton, Mass. This work is proposed within Roberts Meadow Brook adjacent to 87 Reservoir Road in Northampton.

The proposed work involves the discharge of dredged and/or fill material into at least 15,775 square feet of waters of the U.S. associated with Roberts Meadow Brook downstream of the Lower Roberts Meadow Reservoir Dam on Reservoir Road. The purpose for this project is to stabilize a number of bank erosion areas along this approximately 525 linear foot section of the brook. The city of Northampton proposes to install four cross vanes to re-establish the primary flow channel, to regrade erosion areas, as well as to install new stone revetments and rehabilitate existing stone revetments.

As part of this project, the city of Northampton proposes to bypass flows around this stream section during construction so that construction can be completed "in the dry." Stone revetments will be constructed to an elevation of at least the 100-year floodplain elevation. Construction access will be provided via a temporary gravel/stone ramp from the parking area at the Mustante Beach site.

Throughout the development of this stream stabilization project, the applicant has worked to minimize permanent impacts to jurisdictional waterways and wetlands.

The application for the federal permit was filed with the Corps in compliance Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates the discharge or fill of material in U.S. waters, including wetlands. The public notice, with more specifics on the proposed work by the city of Northampton Department of Public Works, can be viewed on the Corps website at www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.

Public comments on this work proposed by the city of Northampton Department of Public Works (file # NAE-2016-1083) should be forwarded no later than June 1, 2017 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Paul Sneeringer), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Paul Sneeringer at 978-318-8491 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: paul.j.sneeringer@usace.army.mil.