Since 2001, Plymouth Department of Energy and Environment has worked to restore and promote fish passage and migration throughout Town Brook. Here are some of the major projects completed on this waterway to date.
Billington Street Dam Removal - 2002
The restored channel through the former dam footprint. Rock riffles slow velocities and allow fish passage through steeper grades of the Brook.
The first coastal dam removal in Massachusetts. This project would spark dozens of similar projects across Plymouth and the Commonwealth to improve migratory passage and remove hazardous dams that no longer provide economic purpose, and pose downstream threats due to potential failure. The removal included the removal of an earthen dam and degraded fishway, and restoration of the river channel back to a natural state.
Brewster Gardens Restoration - 2004 & 2014
Water Street rock ramp and new vehicle bridge post-restoration.
In 2004, this project consisted of lowering the weir, cutting a V- notch, constructing gravel bar, riffle and riparian wetland. In 2015, the obstruction beneath the Water Street bridge was removed and replaced with a rock ramp that allows for fish passage across all tides. This work was crucial in permitting park improvements in the future as it provided important data for fish passage.
Off Billington Street Dam removal - 2014
Early stages of the dam removal and fishway removal process.
The removal of this dam in 2014 opened stream channel connectivity, removed the impoundment and associated contaminated sediment, created acres of riparian wetlands, and included the installation of a new bridge and utilities.
Plymco Dam removal/restoration - 2015
Town Brook post-restoration. This section was the former dam impoundment, now a naturalized stream channel.
The Plymco Dam and associated mill building was removed in 2015, drastically improving habitat conditions for fisheries and wildlife species found throughout the Town Brook system. The removal included the construction of a new bridge for access to nearby homes, relocation of utilities, and an overall site cleanup resulting from the previous mill history at the site.
Holmes Dam Removal & Restoration - 2019
Site preparations for the dam removal. Town Brook was culverted for several hundred feet before the removal.
This high hazard dam removal would consist of implementing a rock ramp, riffles, and pools in order to enhance fish passage and migration to Billington. Significant park and trail improvement will also be completed as part of this project, including walking trails, basketball court, sitting areas, and a skatepark. Click here to see more photos of the Holmes Dam Removal Project.
Jenney Pond Dam Nature-Like Fishway - 2025-2027
Adding woody debris to Town Brook for stream complexity and habitat.
Even today the Town continues to spearhead restoration projects to improve the overall health of the Town Brook system. This project, presently under construction, will include the creation of a nature-like fish bypass channel that will allow fish to navigate around the Jenney Pond dam and no longer queue below the dam waiting to utilize the fish ladder. Additional project components include repairs to the dam, downstream river restoration, utility upgrades, and landscaping improvements. The project broke ground in fall 2025 and is expected to wrap up in early 2027.
Uploaded by Milone & MacBroom, Inc.
For a more in-depth look at the restoration of Town Brook, visit NOAA’s Town Brook Story Map “Swimming Upstream”!
For a deep dive into river herring and complete list of all the projects, big and small, the Department has taken to help diadromous fish on Town Brook, visit the Department’s Town Brook Page!