It’s among the prettiest spots in any of our communities and an area that became a particularly popular respite during the pandemic.

 

But the Watertown Dam along on the Newton/Watertown line over the Charles River hasn’t served any functional purpose for decades.

 

And it could create calamitous flooding if it failed.

 

If the dam breached, water could overwhelm the Galen Street Bridge and shut down roads and businesses along the river -- including along Watertown Square, Charles River Road and Nonantum Road -- writes Charlie Breitrose at the Watertown News, citing Charles River Watershed Association and MAPC reports.

 

The dam's roots date back to colonialists in the 1600s when it powered grist mills. In the early 1900s it generated passive electric power. It was replaced in 1814 and again in 1955 after Hurricane Diane.

 

An inspection report in 2016 rated the dam in "poor" condition. MAPC says its a significant hazard for failure.

 

Removing the dam would be beneficial for the river's health and wildlife, including river shad which have difficultly navigating its fish ladder, Lisa Kumpf, river science program manager at CRWA, told a group of us on a tour Saturday.

 

Kumpf also suggested the sound of rushing water so many of us have come to cherish could be replicated by replacing the dam with large boulders. Thoughtful plantings could enhance the river banks to a more natural state.

 

The dam is owned by the Mass. Department of Conservation and Recreation, which has shown little interest in removing the structure, according to CRWA Executive Director Emily Norton.

 

For more about this and other dams (including the South Natick Dam, also considered at risk), I recommend watching this segment from Chronicle.

 

 

Frances Haugen, the Facebook whistleblower who appeared on “60 Minutes” Sunday and will testify this week before Congress, was a member of the first graduating class of Olin College in Needham.

 

?She was also an assistant coach for the Needham High School debate team. The Globe’s story is here.

 

 

 

If elected mayor of Newton, Amy Mah Sangiolo says she will create a "small-business liaison" position to assist and provide resources to the city’s village center businesses.

 

Responding to a question on Wicked Local Newton, Sangiolo said the liaison would collaborate to create more programs to bring people into our village centers and that she would work “with our department of public works to close off streets to create a more pedestrian friendly environment.”

 

The liaison will “coordinate with businesses to streamline the permitting and licensing process to make it easier for new businesses to open and for existing ones to expand or request accommodations like outdoor seating.”

 

Responding in the same article, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller wrote about her efforts to make Newton’s villages “walkable, neighborly, vibrant and special” and pointed to her record of working “closely with our businesses, and especially during the past 20 months when our restaurants and shops suffered as the economy shut down,” including allowing for outdoor dining.

 

Fuller also pointed to Project Pop-Up which helped fill empty store fronts with startups; creating Newton Hires to help fill job vacancies; and getting the MBTA to commit to redesigning all 3 commuter rail stations.

 

Read both candidates full responses here.

 

A reminder: I’ll be moderating a debate between the two mayoral candidates next Thurs. Oct. 14 at 9 a.m. that will focus on matters related to businesses, nonprofits and economic development. Email me your questions for the candidates.

 

• Alexandria Real Estate Equities will go before the Newton City Council Land Use committee tonight to propose a lab and research facility at the existing Riverside Center, 275 Grove Street in Auburndale.
• Construction of the new Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society at Boston College is expected to be completed in December and open in January. BC is also waiting approval for a Conte Forum upgrade and conducting an internal study for a location to construct a new student center, and the site may be located in Newton. (The Heights)
• Children’s Hospital has signed a 10 year lease at 145 Wells Avenue in Newton to serve as a private child care facility for their employees. 128 CRE is now marketing the 19,000 square foot building for a customer looking to invest in a fully leased property. Children’s is also proceeding with plans to construct a new outpatient surgery center adjacent to Tripadvisor in Needham, spanning 224,000 square feet and five floors.