Save Natick Dam

I am sure that is what the Nipmuc living here were thinking before white colonists came and added a dam to the river.

Natick does not have selectmen. They are known as the Select Board. AND WHY ARE YOU YELLING?

Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, Natick Community Organic Farm, and Elmbank Reservation are all within a stone’s throw of this location. Lots of opportunities to visit and enjoy nature, and visit wildlife close up and in person.

Someone has clearly been lying to you because you are mistaken. Removing the trees and repairing the dam comes with a much higher price tag! $1.5 million initially, an additional $800,000 over the next 30 years.

The Nipmuc Tribal Council has weighed in on this, and they have expressed a strong desire to see the dam removed. They were opposed to damming the river in this way from the very beginning, and they will be happy to see the river restored to its original flow.

We are talking over 60 mature trees. Sure, you can cut them down and plants new trees elsewhere, but it will take a long time for those new trees to do what these current trees are already doing, which is provide shade, habitat, carbon sequestration, and so on.

Thank you for being honest about your motivations for saving the dam. It sounds like you would like to keep the money with people who already have deep pockets at the expense of the river ecosystem.

SAVE THE DAM NOT THE TREES (let’s plant more trees elsewhere?!)

It is unfortunate, sad really, to see the degree to which people are being misled via this petition, and to see the limited understanding of this process from people in comments. For example, one person mentions that "S Natick Indians would be upset" when in reality the Nipmuc Tribal Council has expressed their desire to see the dam removed. Someone else wrote that there would be major repercussions for removing a historic site. While that might be true generally, the South Natick Dam is not on the historic register according to the Natick Historical Society. Please, everyone, get your facts straight. And for those who are donating through this petition, read the fine print - save your money because you are donating to this website and not to the "cause"!

Actually, it's ~$1.5M more upfront, with additional $800K (over 30 years) for maintenance and operational costs associated with keeping the dam.

This is not correct. The South Natick Dam is not a historic site, confirmed by the Natick Historical Society. There will not be major repercussions as far as historic sites are concerned.

Keep the dam! It is a beautiful regenerating spot for so many people.

Please, please decide in favor of repairing and keeping the South Natick Dam as it is one of the most special and beautiful spots in Natick.

This is an important site. Do not remove dam. S Natick Indians would be upset. Picnicked here as a child after going to library.

I do not live in Natick, but I travel to this dam many times during the summer to sit and read. The sounds of the water is very calming and it is a beautiful place. Please think of the history of the dam also, to many sites are loosing their historical sites.

Don't even think about it

This is a historic site. You can’t just take it away with out major Repercussions. It’s what makes South Natick. Every kid has memories of eating ice cream there, fishing and just hanging out. Please don’t take the dam away!

Why remove the dam and change the appeal of the entire area when a few modifications and tree removal ...at lower cost...will maintain the dam's historical value, beauty and visual character ? Keep The Dam!

Please save the South Natick Dam! It really is a town treasure. With only about 1 million dollars more to save it; it seems like a no brainer. Some things are worth paying for - the South Natick Dam is one of them. Please save it.

Please keep this beautiful landmark intact.