For Vermont canoeists, kayakers and rafters, there was one last water release along the West River at New England District's Ball Mountain and Townshend Dams to end a successful and enjoyable summer water season at the projects. Controlled releases were made on Sept. 27 and Sept. 28 to provide desired waterflows for watercraft fun. Approximately 1,300 water sport enthusiasts visited Ball Mountain and Townsend where the fun began at 10 a.m. and continued until 3 p.m. Both projects released water at 1,500 cubic feet per second.
On Sept. 28 water releases began at 10 a.m. and lasted until 3:30 p.m. Both projects released another 1,500 cubic feet per second for 600 small watercraft participants to enjoy. The 8-mile run from Ball Mountain to Townshend Lake has Class I-IV rapids. The two September controlled releases were the third this year. The District performed a water release on Aug. 16.
Ball Mountain, located on the West River in Jamaica, attracts 130,000 visitors annually. Other recreational activities include swimming, picnicking, fishing, hunting, nature study and camping at the Winhall Brook Camping Area.
Townshend Dam is located on the West River in Townshend. Recreational opportunities abound at this site as well. Featured opportunities include swimming, picnicking, fishing, hunting and nature study. Townshend welcomes about 81,000 visitors each year.
Although recreational opportunities are an added bonus, Ball Mountain and Townshend were constructed to keep people safe. Ball Mountain Dam began operating as a flood risk management project in 1961. The 915-foot-long, 265-foot-high structure can hold a 54,600-acre-foot reservoir with a capacity to store up to 17.8 billion gallons of water. Ball Mountain cost $11 million to build and has prevented $16.2 million in damages to date.
Townshend Dam was also built in 1961 and is 1,700-feetlong and 133 feet high. Its lake can hold a 33,700-acre reservoir with a capacity to store 10.8 billion gallons of water. Townshend Dam was constructed at a cost of $7.4 million and has prevented $137 million in damages to date.
Social Sharing