CONCORD, Mass. – All West River paddling events that were scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3, 2020 in Jamaica and Townshend, Vermont, have been cancelled due to concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, Ball Mountain Dam and Townshend Dam in Jamaica and Townshend, Vermont, will not be providing controlled releases of water that weekend, according to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District officials.
Ball Mountain Dam was constructed in 1961 to reduce flooding, at a cost of $11 million. The 915‑foot‑long, 265‑foot‑high dam can impound 54,600‑acre‑feet or 17.8 billion gallons of water. Since it was placed in operation in 1961, it has prevented $189 million in flood damages ($340 million, adjusted for inflation). For more information contact the Ball Mountain Lake project office at (802) 874-4881 or visit the website: https://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Ball-Mountain-Lake/.
Townshend Dam is 1,700 feet long, 133 feet high and cost $7.4 million to construct. Its lake can hold 33,700-acre‑feet or 11 billion gallons of water. Since it was placed in operation in 1961, it has prevented flood damages of $150 million ($240 million, adjusted for inflation). For more information visit the website at: https://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Townshend-Lake/.
Follow the Corps’ New England District at https://www.nae.usace.army.mil and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CorpsNewEngland; on Twitter at twitter.com/CorpsNewEngland; and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/usacenewengland/
Release no. 20-037