Design and engineering began in summer 2014. As of early 2022, permitting is nearly complete and we will be looking at implementing dam removal in 2023. Funding from a variety of sources including the Hurricane Sandy Coastal Resiliency Program, Massachusetts Environmental Trust, Division of Ecological Restoration and American Rivers will go toward implementing this project.
View of the South Middleton Dam from the north bank of the Ipswich River
Toolkit and Actions
Habitat Restoration
Project Partners
- Ipswich River Watershed Association
- Bostik, Inc.
- MA Division of Ecological Restoration
- NOAA Restoration Center
- Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment
- US Fish and Wildlife Service
- American Rivers
Project Contacts
- Neil Shea (IRWA, nshea@ipswichriver.org)
- Nick Wildman (MA DER)
About the Project
Bostik, Inc. is concerned about the long-term maintenance, liability and environmental costs associated with the dam and would like to remove the dam if it is economically and logistically feasible. IRWA, began collaborating with Bostik, Inc. in 2008 and in 2009, received grants from the Gulf of Maine Council/NOAA Habitat Restoration Partnership and the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration to assess the level of sediment contamination behind the dam and the infrastructure needs of the adjacent factory site. Bostik, Inc. also contributed to the study. In 2014, the project partners were able to secure funding from a variety of sources to support the design and implementation phases of this project.
Thanks to these generous funders and the support of Bostik, this restoration project should be completed in 2024!
This project was funded in part by the Massachusetts Environmental 
Trust. Funding for MET grants comes from sales of three environmental license plates. Please consider choosing one of these plates when you register your car and help to Preserve the Trust.
This project was also funded in part by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
