Harland Street Bridge Blockage Opened

On September 11th, 2024 the Department of Recreation Conservation (DCR) upheld its commitment by clearing the blockage at the Harland Street Bridge, which had hindered the natural flow of Pine Tree Brook into Pope’s Pond. 

The DCR hired the Peter Amerello Construction Company to clear the blockage. This was no simple task; a steam shovel was required to remove the substantial obstruction of mud, trees, and debris.

Once the debris was cleared, the brook began to flow freely through the outlets, and the backup that had surrounded the area quickly diminished. 

This is good news for the Health Department that had concerns about the standing water surrounding the bridge area was a breeding ground for mosquitos and the threat of Tripple E and West Nile Virus.

The DCR's commitment was to be supported by the Town of Milton's dedication to keeping this crucial section of the brook free from blockages.

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 DCR vs. Beaver - Harland Street Bridge Blockage

On July 29, 2024, the Milton Health Department convened a Zoom meeting to discuss a request from the Department of Conservation Recreation (DCR) for a 10-Day Emergency Beaver Permit. The purpose of the permit would be to trap beavers in the Pine Tree Brook (PTB) culverts, specifically the area between Harland Street and Unquity Road. 

The DCR reported that beavers were constructing a dam in the culvert/conduits section between Unquity Road and Harland Street. Consequently, this blockage in the PTB was leading to flooding at that site. Because of the flooding complaint, concerns arose regarding the standing water, as it could pose a health and safety risk due to mosquito-borne viruses like West Nile and EEE virus.

After a lengthy discussion between the Board of Health members, the DCR representative and local residents the board denied the permit.

The Milton Health Department were correct to deny DCR a permit to trap beavers in the PTB and here is why.

Under Chapter 131-80a the burden of proof belonged to the DCR to show that alleged beavers in the brook were responsible for the blockage and flooding the area by building a dam and causing a health threat due to possible West Nile and EEE virus.

The blockage is located at the Harland Bridge as the brook makes a sharp left after going through 3 conduits. The blockage contained trees, mud, broken bottles, limbs, and broken twigs of all sizes. The blockage is approximately two to three feet high preventing the normal flow of the brook. This was not created by beavers.

So, what caused the blockage? 

This location of the brook is an engineer’s nightmare. Sometime in the 1900’s the natural flow of the brook was changed at this location forcing the brook to take a sharp right and then a sharp left as it headed to Pope’s Pond. Without regular cleaning this area will always cause a blockage.

A review from The Blue Hill Observatory’s weather website reported an unusual high amount of rain fall that started on January 9, 2024, and continued throughout the spring and early summer. 

1.  January - recorded the fifth highest amount of rainfall ever recorded, with 9.24 inches. 

2.  February - reported the smallest amount of precipitation recorded was 1.32 inches, which was 2.68 inches below the usual amount for that 30-year period.

3.  March - recorded 9.49 inches which exceeded the 30-year normal by 3.97 and the 6th wettest March on record.

4.  April - recorded 4.91 inches, which was just 0.15 inches more than the 30-year normal. The greatest amount in 24 hours was 2.06 inches with strong winds on the 3rd-4th.

5.  May - the total precipitation was 5.86 inches, which was 2.04 inches more than the 30-year normal. The greatest amount in 24 hours was 1.47 inches on the 15th-16th, and periods of heavy rain and thunderstorms brought 1.41 inches of rain on the morning of the 30th.

6.  June - the total precipitation was 4.86 inches, which was just 0.23 inches more than the 30-year normal. The greatest amount in 24 hours was 1.83 inches on the 26th-27th, during several periods of thunderstorms and downpours. The calendar day rainfall of 1.63 inches on the 26th surpassed the previous record for the date of 1.22 inches set in 1938. 

The accompanying video clearly demonstrate that beavers were not the cause of the blockage. Instead, it was a buildup of debris resulting from heavy rainfall over a continuous six-month period.

Note: After spending 2 weeks in this area, I was looking for any signs of beavers and none were seen. There were some trees that showed signs of chewing or gnawing around tree trunks or fallen trees but they appear to be old.

The Milton Health Board made the right decision on the evidence and denied the complaint.

The question is who is responsible for keeping section of the brook from backing up. The Department of Conservation and Recreation said they were, but the blockage remains as of this writing.

Two inches of rain in a 24-hour period can turn the brook into a raging river.