Town of Littleton, Massachusetts

Flooding in Littleton: UPDATE: 4/21/10 - Route 119 reopens - from wire service reports:

LITTLETON - State transportation officials say Route 119 in Littleton has reopened for the first time since massive flooding last month. The state road just west of Interstate 495 was closed when a culvert collapsed about 20 feet under the roadway, forcing detours for motorists in Littleton and neighboring Groton. The Department of Transportation says crews worked around the clock to install a new culvert and rebuild the road, which reopened late yesterday. [April 20, 2010].

See updates below from Littleton Light & Water Department General Manager Savas Danos.

Subject: Update - Saturday Morning, April 3rd, 10 AM
Good Morning:
As the neighborhood hopefully have realized, we are gaining (meaning the water is receding). It is slow because there is such a large surface area to drain (I believe between 2 and 3 x the lakes surface area during mid-summer conditions) and should begin to recede quicker as the surface area of the Lake dimensions.
Chief Carter and I have viewed the draft plans. They are still draft as rebar bearing weight, and other mechanical details are added. They are complete enough, however, for the contractor to begin installing footings. I have contacted Dan Nason (Ayer DPW) and have discussed the plans with him and have emailed the neighborhood email list with the highlights as well. Highlights:
· As was earlier suggested, I am told the invert elevation of 207.5 is equal to the original pre-95 invert
· Twin 48” RCP, Class V culverts shall be used
· Two series of 9” concrete stop logs will be employed to control the pond’s elevation – especially in the non-flooding/threatening late spring through fall periods. It will be our responsibility (Littleton and Ayer) to maintain the stop log structure
· Substantial cast in place concrete footings and headwalls shall be build – they may not look as pretty as the granite headwall we had, but they are substantial and able to withstand the water rise that was observed this past spring.
Currently, the contractor is building two coffer dams at the inlet and outlet that will allow them to dewater the area (3-6’ below the bottom of the lake) so footings can 1st be poured, followed by the pipe and headwalls. This will still take the better part of the weekend into next week to get the two headwalls installed and cured.
The remainder of the pipe will go in rather quickly, then the backfilling and compaction process begins.
As soon as the headwalls are cured and the culverts installed, water can begin to discharge from the lake while the backfilling; compaction; rebuilding of the stone wall on the outlet structure; and ultimately paving of Route 119 occur.
In addition, LELD line crews have installed a set of cutouts to facilitate the installation of the coffer dam. Agway has been on generation since they opened this morning and will remain so until the power is turned back on, sometime later today or tonight. . . .
Best to you all
Savas

Subject: RE: Update as of Thursday, April 1: 3 PM
Appears that we peaked approximately 10 AM this morning and levels are beginning to come down.
Railroad is concerned with 13” of water over the rails (1st slide).
It will take time for the water to subside – there is a great deal of storage in the pond, wetlands as well as feeder streams into Spectacle Pond.
1st set of 48” culvert pipe has arrived and ET&L is hoping for final design by tomorrow.
At least the sun is out.
Savas

Subject: RE: Update as of Thursday, April 1: 9 AM
Good Morning:
It appears that we are peaking this AM and our total additional increase in the ponds elevation since 3/30 is approximately 16”.
Maximum pumping is taking place on the job site (see last slide for culverts at Gilson Rd) and the general contractor (ET&L) is excavating the trench in anticipation of final design of the twin culverts and headwalls.
I AM VERY HAPPY TO REPORT THAT BACTERIA SAMPLES TAKEN YESTERDAY FROM THE TWO RUNNING WELLS (Spec Pond Well/Treatment Plant and # 1 Whitcomb Ave Well) HAVE COME BACK CLEAN (AGAIN)!
Production staff have done a great job keeping water out of the Spec Pond Well house (see 4th slide) although the wellhouse has become a peninsula.
We expect water levels to begin dropping today and will continue pumping at maximum capacity while the culverts are being installed and then will regulate the culvert and pumps to continue to provide maximum downstream flow.
The contractor will continue to work two, 12-hour continuous shifts until the culverts and appurtenances are installed and Route 119 is re-opened.
Plan Route 119 to be closed through at least next week.
Savas

Subject: Update as of Wednesday, March 31st, 1:30 PM
As of 1:30 PM, 10 out of the 11 pumps available are running and we have hit the capacity of Gilson Road at the twin 48-inch culverts (see last picture). It is projected that we are pumping approximately 64,000 gallons per minute = 92 million gallons per day.
Well # 1 and Well # 5 (Treatment Plant) are running and additional bacteria samples were taken today from both sources.
We had a meeting this am with the design team, ET&L , DOT and officials from Littleton and Ayer.
Although the final design is not completed, we are very pleased that both flooding issues and summer pond storage will be accommodated in the final design and I believe, will meet the expectations of the neighborhood as well. The desire for an additional box culvert to support salamander and turtle migration across Route 119 has now been abandoned – as the environmental specialist with DOT recognized, from a site visit, that the slopes and headwalls will not accommodate migration into a man-made structure.
Excavation down to 10’ above the culvert has began and the contractor will be working two, 12-hour shifts until the work is completed. Hopefully final design will be forthcoming after the design team of FS&T and the States Hydrologic Engineer complete survey work and undertake hydrologic gradient calculations.
It appears that twin 48-inch RCP culverts with concrete headwalls and Stop Logs will be employed. In addition, a scowling bowl will be constructed at the discharge point to assist with the hydrologic gradient of the 120’ culverts. The limiting factor will be the acceptability of the Gilson Road Culverts and they will be part of the overall evaluation.
Although I cannot speak for Jim C and Dan H, I believe we are all very comfortable with the design parameters and process.
It is estimated that the pond outlet invert will be at the pre 1995 elevation, but with the stop logs, we will be able to control summer flows to insure storage in the pond to support Littleton and Ayer’s Spec Pond Wells as well as shallow point wells on the Littleton side of Spectacle Pond.
I believe the Pond rose an additional 6.5” over night but the expected rise, given the amount of rainfall was closer to 12”. Now that all the pumps are running – we hope to start seeing a decline in levels by tomorrow morning.
Because the railroad tracks are now covered w/ 7” of water, the freight lines can no longer operate. We have been told by representatives from Pan Am that this is the main freight line through New England and that coal needs to start running again to Maine by Friday or two power plants will need to be shut down.
So the next 24 hours are very important, not only for the immediate concerns of the Ayer and Littleton Water supplies and the lake shore inhabitants, but also a few power plants in Maine (who would think).
As of Today – Littleton’s Supply Remains Safe!
Savas

Subject: RE: Update on Spec Pond Flooding 1:00, Tuesday the 30th [3/30/10]
As of 1:00 PM, all pumps are in place (1st 3 slides) but the 18-inch pumps are not operational – yet. We hope that the first 2 (at the far end of the picture) will be operational by night fall.
Water has risen an additional 1-inch inside the Spec Pond well house sump (groundwater) and is now to the sandbags – surface water.
I am happy to report that the bacteria sample taken from finished water at Spec Pond – late yesterday – has come back clean today!!!
We have received close to an additional inch of rain since this morning reading of 1.76” so we are now near 3” for this storm.
Localized flooding is throughout our area with of course, more than localized at Spec Pond.
More to follow!
S

Subject: RE: Status: The flood of 2010 - Sunday [3/28/10] 9 PM
A meeting was hosted today at 4 PM by the Fire and Police Chiefs of Littleton.
A number of issues were cleared up towards the end of the meeting when the Chief and elected/appointed officials of Littleton and Ayer had an opportunity to speak with the Undersecretary, Fire Marshall and Chief Engineer of DOT.
ET & L will be on the job on Monday to begin the painstaking process of installing a new culvert. They have hired FS&T Engineers to assist in the final design which will include a weir structure and trash rack for us to manage.
The open cut with sheathing will take from one to two weeks to complete.
Two additional 12-inch high capacity pumps arrived on site in the afternoon and should be running by 9 PM.
DOT has ordered an additional 4, 12 or 18-inch pumps from Michigan and the Chief and DOT officials has told us that they should arrive tomorrow.
The location of the additional pumps may be a challenge, but cutting of trees on the LWD property should accommodate. We believe that there is a great deal of additional water that Gilson Brook and Lake Matawanakee can accept - but will monitor as the volume of pumping discharge increases to insure that downgradient receptors are not negatively affected.
It was suggested that pump lines be run down the railroad track right of way.
Jim Clyde measured the length and the 1800' may be prohibitive for the pumps to be effective. This alternative will be used, we suspect, if we cannot find enough room in the greater boat launch area to accommodate the additional pumps.
Both Ayer and Littleton Water have sand bagged and provided additional protection of our Spectacle Pond Water Supply wells in an effort to stem the rising water associated with the predicted 3-6" of additional precipitation over the next 3 days.
I want to personally thank the Littleton Explorer Troop and firefighters for their unbelievable effort in assisting Littleton Water Staff with sandbagging the Spec Pond Well House - You folks did an amazing Job!!
The Chief has ordered an evacuation of those remote properties where the residents may find difficulty in egress to their property. Please contact the fire department or dispatch for more information and guidance on this issue.
Since we have a great deal of work ahead of us - the additional pumping capacity to hopefully keep up with the weather and get ahead of the rising levels is vital.
It will be a very important week ahead for both Littleton and Ayer Water Departments and the many affected residents of the Spectacle Pond Area.
Thank you for your patience
Savas et.al.

Good Morning:
I am sorry to report that the culvert is in far worse shape than anyone imagined.
After working on the culvert opening for many hours to remove the accumulated debris with the aid of a jetting machine -it was realized that the culvert pieces stuck in the culvert are in fact, the culvert bottom pealed up like a "reverse can opener" (Jim Clyde's analysis).  Once the culvert was cleaned enough to look down it, it appears that between 20 and 40' feet of the culvert floor has buckled into the culvert cavity.
The jetting crew will continue to remove the debris from  under the floor but this is a serious set-back.
The head MA DOT maintenance engineer will be on site Sunday morning for a review and decision on what the next steps are.
It may be necessary to slip sleeve the entire length of the culvert with a directional boring machine.
As was noted earlier, additional high volume pumps are due in on Sunday morning.
The pumps were shut down for about 3 hours Saturday night in order to assess the culvert damage as the water was flowing back  from the discharge area - The discharge was finally sand bagged so that the pumps could again be turned on around 3 AM.
Again - I am sorry to report this information and at this time, have no idea on a time table for getting the culvert operational.
More information will be forthcoming this Sunday morning.
Best regards,
Savas et.al.

Subject: RE: Status: The flood of 2010 - FRIDAY [3/26/10] 10 pm
Good Evening:
Two more 12-inch high volume pumps are currently being assembled.
It appears that water elevations are still rising, although not significantly. I measured an additional 0.15-inch of rainfall over night
Hopefully these two pumps will help begin lowering the lake's level again.
The coffer dam construction has ended for the evening as the contractor obtains some replacement hoses for failed hydraulic lines. This work will commence in the AM and hopefully the coffer dam can be completed tomorrow.
Detours on Route 119 remain in place.
An email by Dan Hanson with MASS DOT Head Engineers indicates their commitment to focusing the needed resources and finances to complete this job as soon as practical.
All are aware of the plight of abutters and the water departments on Spectacle Pond.
We hope that Saturday bring good news for all.
Best wishes
Savas

Subject: FW: Status: The flood of 2010 - Friday AM
Good Morning:
Below is a huge email thread over the past two weeks regarding what now is serious flooding of abutters to Spectacle Pond and the Ayer Water Supply on Spec Pond.
I have been monitoring and assisting with the situation and unfortunately it is now a very big problem as the culvert has completely collapsed.
The email thread is a good chronology of what has been going on but I can add that our Spec Pond Supply is still fine, although the lake is now about 6 linear feet from the well house and
about 1 foot in vertical elevation from the well house.
Although the supply is threatened – we are ok and I would hope this issue will be solved before day’s end or early in the weekend.
Testing of all wells this week have found no water quality issues!!!!
I will keep you in the email loop with updates.
S

Subject: RE: Status: The flood of 2010 - Update as of 8:30 AM – Friday
Good Morning All:
This morning brings the shutdown of Route 119 from Gilson Rd to the 4-corners in Groton as the state has now 4 to 5, 6 and 8-inch pumps – pumping across Route 119 to help alleviate the lack of discharge from the culvert.
The pumping, hopefully will not make matters any worse than they are.
The State is now waiting for sheathing to come in. They have filled the coffer dam area as the area was too unstable to be able to place the sheathing – especially along the embankment by
Route 119.
The game plan is for the sheathing to be put into place around the culvert outlet to stabilize the area and allow work in a safe and productive manner.
The area will then be dug out, the outlet found and rebuilt to some degree.
All this begins as soon as the sheathing shows up from a contractor.
I believe there was a news bleep on Channel 7 this AM stating that the Littleton and Ayer Water Supplies are in jeopardy.
Both are potentially affected if this continues, however, I can safely say that currently, Littleton’s supply at Spectacle Pond is still above this all time high water mark and testing of all our water supplies sources this week found them free of any contamination that would be associated with flooding.
I will keep you informed an hopefully will have something on our website later today.
I will continue to monitor and report on the situation for the Highway and Water Departments.
Best to you all in this difficult situation
Savas

Subject: RE: Status: The flood of 2010 - Thursday [3/25/10] at 9:45 PM
Dear Neighbors:
I am very sorry to report that as of this hour – it is not going well.
The banking along Route 119 continues to cave in which is not allowing us access to the end of the discharge pipe for repairs.
All water flow from Spec Pond has been stopped as the State continues to deal with this issue.
They are trying to obtain shoring material so that it can be driven into the ground around the work site, minimizing the cave ins and allowing access to the discharge pipe.
In the interim – two 6-inch high volume (at least 1,000 gallons per minute) pumps are now being set up to at least slow down the rise in the Spectacle Pond water level which now is at an all
time high.
The state hopes to pump water from the boat launch across Route 119 and into the culvert on the other side.
Until shoring can be found and installed in the work area, any further excavation will just undermined the already unstable work site.
It will not be a pleasant morning when you wake up as the water levels will not have been receding.
Again, I am very sorry and will update you as time permits.
Best regards,
Savas

Subject: RE: Status: The flood of 2010 - Wednesday [3/24/10] AM
As of 9:30 AM today, Wed, the discharge to the north side of Route 119 is still flowing at its historical high level.
Unfortunately, the modest gains made over the past two days have been lost as the water elevation at the outfall appears to be what it was when we started this level of work on Sunday.
Based on a rough estimate that Jim Clyde made, if may take up to 10 days to lower the level to pre-flood elevations – What do you think about this Leon?
Hopefully, we will start making gains on the hydraulic system later today.
There may be FEMA relief for Middlesex County if there is enough damage and I have been told, it may support folks w/o flood insurance.
I am not sure who you should contact regarding this issue, possibly Steve Carter, Fire Chief or Keith Bergman, Littleton Town Administrator for any details on FEMA/MEMA opportunities.
Regardless of FEMA/MEMA or your own insurance support – proper documentation w/ pictures etc. will be paramount.
My best to you all
Savas
Savas C. Danos
LELWD
General Manager
(978) 540-2222

Flood of 2010: Littleton, Massachusetts