Army Corps Collecting Comments on Milford Pond Project

More than a year after Milford Special Town Meeting members agreed to spend funds to dredge a portion of Milford Pond, the project has moved to a public comment phase.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has posted a 30-day notice for public comments. Feedback on the proposed project will be collected in writing through Feb. 21. According to the notice, the project would dredge about 200,000 cubic yards of sediment, to a depth of 12 feet, from the southern portion of the pond, and redeposit it on the northern end. A "sediment retaining structure" would be built to hold the material, called slurry.

"Dredged sediment will be pumped into the area behind the sediment retaining structure, allowing the sediment to accumulate to the height of the surrounding marsh."
The purpose of the project is to restore the quality of the water in Milford Pond, encouraging the survival of fish and other wildlife. According to the notice, the project would also address phosphorous-related problems in the pond.

About 20 acres of the 120-acre pond will be dredged. In October 2012, special town meeting voters endorsed the project.

For more information on the project, see the full notice published on the town's website.