HUNTINGTON-Fall foliage made a stunning backdrop on Saturday morning as representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and public officials celebrated the 50th anniversary observance of Littleville Lake and the 75th anniversary of Knightville Dam.
Matthew Coleman, project manager for Littleville Lake and Knightville Dam, reviews the logistics with Steven Lehmann, basin manager, Lower Connecticut River Basin, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, prior to a special ceremony on Saturday morning at Littleville Dam.
Matthew Coleman, project manager for Littleville Lake and Knightville Dam, welcomed more than 40 area residents who attended the festivities that began at 11 a.m. at Littleville Dam.
“The dams have made a great impact here,” said Coleman, adding that everyone he meets relates a “special memory” of time spent fishing, hunting, picnicking or studying nature.
For Jean (Elder) Bush who grew up in Chester, the event was bittersweet.
“My family’s home was taken from us when construction started for the Littleville Lake project,” said Bush, adding her family relocated to Montgomery in 1962. Bush is a member of the Chester Historical Society and was on hand to answer questions about the construction project, along with fellow members Fay Piergiovanni and Janice Brown.
District Engineer Col. Christopher Barron, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, was unable to attend the event but noted in a statement that “these projects are great examples of applied engineering and science successfully mitigating flood risk and damage, and adding immeasurable value to the region.”
Jean Bush, Janice Brown and Fay Piergiovanni, all members of the Chester Historical Society, look at the program on Saturday morning at the Littleville Dam.
Barron also noted that the dams have “protected downstream citizens in Massachusetts for 75 years in the case of Knightville Dam and 50 years because of the Littleville Lake dam.”
Steven Lehmann, basin manager, Lower Connecticut River Basin, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, echoed those comments.
“The dams have proven to be a very successful investment of time and money, together preventing more than $490.8 million in flood damages since their construction,” said Lehmann.
Knightville Dam, on the Westfield River in Huntington, was constructed at a cost of $3.3 million. The 1,200-foot-long, 150-foot high dam can impound a 49,000-acre reservoir which is equivalent to 15.8 billion gallons of water. Construction began in August 1939 and was completed in 1941. It was noted during the ceremony that the project has prevented flood damages of $338 million.
Two kayakers are seen in the distance on Littleville Lake.
In conjunction with Knightville Dam, Littleville Lake provides flood protection to Huntington, Westfield, West Springfield, and other communities on the Westfield River. Additionally, the dams help to reduce flood damages along the main stem of the Connecticut River.
Construction of Littleville Lake dam, on the Middle Branch of the Westfield River, was begun in June 1962 and completed in October 1965 at a cost of $6.8 million. The project stores Middle Branch floodwaters and helps to lower flood stages in downstream communities along the Westfield River. The project consists of an earth-fill dam with stone slope protection 1,360 feet long and 164 feet high and can store an estimated 7.5 billion gallons of floodwater. It was also noted during the ceremony that this project has prevented damages to date of $152.8 million.
Bob Stoops, chief engineer for the City of Springfield’s Water and Sewer Commission, also spoke about Littleville Lake that serves as a backup water supply area for the City of Springfield.
Among those celebrating the 50th anniversary of Littleville Lake and the 75th anniversary of Knightville Dam were Colin Monkiewicz, park ranger; Matthew Coleman, project manager, Littleville Lake and Knightville Dam; Keith Goulet, park ranger; Steven Lehmann, basin manager, Lower Connecticut River Basin, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, and Brooke Dube, park ranger.
Speakers also included John McVeigh, representing the Huntington Board of Selectmen, Bill McVeigh, of the Huntington Historical Society, and Jeff Penn, the Huntington representative for the Westfield Wild & Scenic Rivers Committee.
Tours of Littleville Dam as well as a guided dam tour of Knightville Dam rounded out the festivities, as well as a cake-cutting ceremony and historical display with artifacts from the Chester Historical Society.
With more than 39,000 visitors annually enjoying the 1,567-acre Littleville Lake Park and more than 41,000 annual visitors at Knightville Dam, all agreed that the dams have become an integral part of life in Western Massachusetts.
Matthew Coleman, project manager, Littleville Lake and Knightville Dam, makes welcoming remarks as the 50th anniversary of Littleville Lake and the 75th anniversary of Knightville Dam were celebrated Saturday morning.
“The dams are an important fabric of our communities,” said John McVeigh.
Park ranger Colin Monkiewicz of Montgomery cuts a special cake to mark the 50th anniversary of Littleville Lake and the 75th anniversary of Knightville Dam.
