CONCORD, Mass. – At the request of local officials in Vermont and due to the destructive impacts from Hurricane Irene, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District is cancelling the annual water releases from Corps-managed dams on the West River in Townsend and Jamaica, Vermont, that normally support white water events. The water releases had been planned for next Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011.
Local officials requested that the Corps cancel the water releases due to impacts of Hurricane Irene that left streams and rivers in the area too dangerous for recreational use because of debris, poor water quality and other issues.
The annual fall water releases from Corps-managed dams normally support annual white water events. The Corps typically stores enough water in the fall at Townsend Lake dam and Ball Mountain Lake dam to provide water releases in support of recreational white water rafting. Generally, more than 800 canoeists, kayakers and rafters take advantage of this event.
Townshend Lake dam on the West River in Townshend is 1,700 feet long, 133 feet high and cost $7.4 million to construct. Its lake can hold a 33,700-acre‑foot reservoir with a capacity to store 10.8 billion gallons of water. During the 1987 floods, the dam utilized 100 percent of its storage capacity and prevented damages of $14.2 million. Since it was placed in operation in 1961, it has prevented flood damages of $115 million.
The reservoir area offers recreational opportunities, including swimming, picnicking, fishing, hunting, canoeing, boating and nature study and annually attracts nearly 81,000 visitors. For more information on Townshend Lake visit the website at http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/recreati/tsl/tslhome.htm.
Ball Mountain Lake dam on the West River in Jamaica was constructed at a cost of $11 million in 1961. The 915‑foot‑long, 265‑foot‑high dam can impound a 54,600‑acre‑foot reservoir, which is equivalent to 17.8 billion gallons of water. During the 1987 floods, Ball Mountain Dam utilized 100 percent of its storage capacity and prevented damages of $18.3 million. Since it was placed in operation in 1961, it has prevented damages of $135.9 million.
The reservoir area offers recreational opportunities, including swimming, picnicking, fishing, hunting, canoeing, nature study and camping at Winhall Brook Camping Area in South Londonderry. This popular camping area offers 111 sites for tent or RV campers; some sites have hookups and others have lean-to shelters for rent. Ball Mountain welcomes over 130,000 visitors each year. For more information on Ball Mountain Lake visit the website at http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/recreati/bml/bmlhome.htm.