Maxwell Pond Dam at the mouth of the Merrimack River

Return of Black Brook

Aggregate Industries Partners With City of Manchester To Remove Maxwell Pond Dam and Restore Black Brook 

Manchester, NH, November 10, 2009 - Faced with an aging dam that was exacerbating local flooding and threatening critical infrastructure, the city of Manchester joined forces with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and a number of project partners, including Aggregate Industries, to restore Black Brook and Maxwell Pond at the mouth of the Merrimack River.

The restoration project will both eliminate a safety hazard and allow migratory fish to move more freely in the restored river. Several miles of river habitat benefit from the restoration effort. State scientists anticipate that the restoration will allow Black Brook to be removed from the state’s 303(d) list of impaired waters. Maxwell pond was on the list because the pond did not support diverse aquatic life, primarily due to its low level of dissolved oxygen.

The removal of the Maxwell Pond Dam began in early 2009, and by March of 2009, Black Brook was cascading over bedrock, where Maxwell Pond had previously acted as a barrier to fish migration for over a century.

Aggregate Industries’ contribution was significant. The Company assumed responsibility for dredging the pond and removing culverts that inhibited fish migration. Costs associated with this major component of the restoration exceeded $125,000.00.

Aggregate Industries is an environmentally responsible producer of high quality aggregate and construction materials. The Company provides industry-leading products and services to our customers in 16 states and 300 cities.