North Adams Flood Chutes

From its early history to today, the Hoosic River has been prone to flooding from seasonal melts as well as rainstorms and even from hurricanes sweeping through the area. Since the establishment of North Adams in 1878,  the river going through town has provided power to much of the original industry established here. However, these mills oftentimes suffered from water damage and several floods have caused havoc and wiped-out portions of town. Multiple historic floods have plagued North Adams, including 1869, which caused over 100,000 dollars in damage; 1938, where the Great New England Hurricane swept through multiple states caused massive surges of water; and the New Years’ flood of 1948, have shown a need for protections from the rising waters of the Hoosic. Beginning in the early 1930’s a flood protection plan was put into place throughout the state of Massachusetts from flooding and North Adams was targeted as an area desperately in need of assistance. The North Adams Flood Chutes were built in the 1950s to deal with the repeated issue of periodic flooding that had devastated parts of the city. The construction project lasted until 1961 with an end cost of 18.8 million. The North Adams local protection project included: 4,000ft of earth fill dykes 3,840ft of concrete flood walls 400ft of paved concrete channels 12,540ft of stoned supported riverbank The chutes support and protect 85% of all commercial and industrial areas and 25% of all residential areas in North Adams. These percentages are due to the worst of the flooding happening in the center of town where the shops and industry are with the majority of homes and the town spreading outwards and up into the hills. Many companies relied on the power provided by the waterways making an industrial ecosystem that was especially susceptible to floods and flood damage. As the years have gone by the condition of the flood chutes has been ravaged by weathering and calls have been made at the state level to request funding for a study and then one day naturalization of the currently concrete chutes. The chutes as they are contain high amounts of harmful bacteria such as E-Coli, and are fenced off with barbed wire, and have straight vertical drops with fast flow and no way for life to survive inside of it. The naturalization project put forth would widen and slope these chutes into a new park-styled river trail with ample spots for biking and fishing. They want to create areas of recreational use and in some areas have the space needed to redo these manmade rivers all together. They want to upgrade this and create livable natural space while not comprising the flood reducing capability of the chutes. Some of this work has been completed on the portions outside the city itself but some want a full overhaul of the system throughout the city.