Project Type: Assessment
Activities: The NVCOG was awarded $200,000 from the Department of Economic and Community Developments (DECD) Office of Brownfield Remediation and Development under round 22 of the Municipal Grant Program for the assessment of the land surrounding the Pin Shop Pond and former Oakville Pin Company located at 20 and 27 Main Street in Watertown.
Pin Shop Pond was formed when a dam was constructed across Steele Brook in the mid-1800s to provide waterpower for the Oakville Company, a prominent pin manufacturing operation established in 1849. Today, the dam and pond serve no industrial purpose, and the pond has slowly disappeared due to the accumulation of sediment behind the dam. Contaminants in historic discharges from upstream industry likely remain trapped in those sediments.
The awarded funds will be used to assess the land surrounding the Pin Shop Pond, including the sediments within the pond. Data collected will determine the level of contamination and will assist the municipality and site owner(s) in determining what remediation may be necessary, and the potential for future uses at the site.
Project Status: Contractual agreements with DECD are ongoing.