tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post2974459373409192936..comments2023-10-29T05:29:58.599-04:00Comments on Right-Side-of-Lowell: ENEL Flood ProblemsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-91994453448825858172011-02-04T00:47:45.823-05:002011-02-04T00:47:45.823-05:00This is a second test. This is a test of the Anon...This is a second test. This is a test of the Anonymous Commenting System.<br /><br />Regards — CliffAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-76669581989241255332011-02-04T00:45:27.976-05:002011-02-04T00:45:27.976-05:00This is a test. If it were a real comment it woul...This is a test. If it were a real comment it would say something.<br /><br />Regards — CliffC R Kriegerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10563658418464959198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-17255358531475744972011-02-03T17:52:54.237-05:002011-02-03T17:52:54.237-05:00"I wasn't at the meeting, and I'm not..."I wasn't at the meeting, and I'm not one of the residents who live upstream of the dam, but I am familiar with the site, and I have a little common sense. These neighbors who are getting flooded would have us believe that this company Enel is responsible for their flooding by increasing the top height of the wooden flashboards at the dam by one foot. Even if they did raise the height of the boards, it is absolutely ridiculous to say that this is the cause of flooding upstream. It is physically impossible. Isn't it a little more logical that people who own or built homes in a flood plain might experience some flooding during the past few years when we've had at least 2 hundred-year flood events? With all of the building north along the Merrimack River both in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, don't they think maybe there might be a significant increase in runoff and flooding? From what I understand, dams are subject to regulation by both FERC and the Army Corps of Engineers. If there was really a problem caused by Enel's dam in Lowell, why aren't they complaining? If there is any real evidence that this company is causing the flooding upstream, then why doesn't the City of Lowell put the proof on the table and put a stop to it. The answer is that they can't because they don't have any proof. Because it's not true. And the politicians know it, and they're just playing politics with this whole stupid issue to keep happy a small group of angry residents. How come they never bring up the fact that the same new dam technology Enel wants to put in Lowell was put in Lawrence a few years, and everybody is happy with it? I guess it's just a case of 'don't let the facts get in the way of a good story'."Jeffrey C. Powershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03789340494539745088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-131597205211156102011-01-30T11:13:52.825-05:002011-01-30T11:13:52.825-05:00"I wasn't at the meeting, and I'm not..."I wasn't at the meeting, and I'm not one of the residents who live upstream of the dam, but I am familiar with the site, and I have a little common sense. These neighbors who are getting flooded would have us believe that this company Enel is responsible for their flooding by increasing the top height of the wooden flashboards at the dam by one foot. Even if they did raise the height of the boards, it is absolutely ridiculous to say that this is the cause of flooding upstream. It is physically impossible. Isn't it a little more logical that people who own or built homes in a flood plain might experience some flooding during the past few years when we've had at least 2 hundred-year flood events? With all of the building north along the Merrimack River both in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, don't they think maybe there might be a significant increase in runoff and flooding? From what I understand, dams are subject to regulation by both FERC and the Army Corps of Engineers. If there was really a problem caused by Enel's dam in Lowell, why aren't they complaining? If there is any real evidence that this company is causing the flooding upstream, then why doesn't the City of Lowell put the proof on the table and put a stop to it. The answer is that they can't because they don't have any proof. Because it's not true. And the politicians know it, and they're just playing politics with this whole stupid issue to keep happy a small group of angry residents. How come they never bring up the fact that the same new dam technology Enel wants to put in Lowell was put in Lawrence a few years, and everybody is happy with it? I guess it's just a case of 'don't let the facts get in the way of a good story'."Jeffrey C. Powershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03789340494539745088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-49629604482660431812011-01-21T19:22:45.708-05:002011-01-21T19:22:45.708-05:00Thanks Cliff. You make all wanna-be citizen journ...Thanks Cliff. You make all wanna-be citizen journalist proud.<br /><br />Great report.Mimihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12621050407680152590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-29959890645427003902011-01-21T16:36:53.859-05:002011-01-21T16:36:53.859-05:00Thanks Cliff for your account of the meeting. I wa...Thanks Cliff for your account of the meeting. I was unable to attend because as a truck driver it is stuff to take time off for a hour or two. I am very proud of the grassroots Flood Owners Group to bring this issue forward again at this meeting. We started this back in 2006 trying to educate ourselves and all the stakeholders in the city and the abuters to the river. We thought it was beavers, overdevlopment,nature, but it all pointed to Enel. Countless CC meetings Sub Comm. meetings, meetings with the Feds hoping to get this resolved. Kad barma..You should be disappointed in the manner the canals are mantainted they are not. Bridges over the canals are not. Money Money Money is what Enel is all about.<br /><br />Look what happened to Lothens Hot Dog ( spelling looks wrong) in Lawrence. They have to close because the canalwalls are failing behind them. Jack ...Flood Insurance doubled since I moved in Rosemont Terr. 28yrs ago. I'm tired of hearing you brougt a home in a flood plain live with it. What we can't live with is a greedy company from Italy.Paul Belleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-72738451548264672862011-01-21T15:55:20.666-05:002011-01-21T15:55:20.666-05:00Some thoughts:
$$- Banks can hit a homeowner with ...Some thoughts:<br />$$- Banks can hit a homeowner with flood insurance, forcing it upon them and taking the payment directly from the tax escrow. The time they give you to protest is not enough time to validate your claim. Some banks may even make a buck on the side, as they ram this down your throats. I have seen this happen. Watch out!<br /><br />$$$- If Enel raises the water table, meaning groundwater, not just the visble water of the Merrimack; there will be an increase in what engineers call "ground water intrusion." The cracked pipes of Lowell's old sewer system will be surcharged with ground water running in, and then down to Duck Island. This will stress our already overburdened sewage treatment plant.<br /><br />$$$$$- History helped save Lowell. Should Enel defile the historical dam, they degrade Lowell's historical integrity. We have all helped contribute to the upkeep of that historical intgrity. We all have a share in it.<br />Across Lowell, should that be damaged, we are all harmed. Progress here emerges through a prism of historical preservation. It is the compact we abide by.<br /><br />If Enel breaks this, the progress is set free. The Historical National Park will be exposed to other interlopers looking for a buck. Think, skyscapers looming over our smoke stacks? <br /><br />Private Profit, Public Risk.<br /><br />Remember the Bank Bailout? The Gulf Oil Spill?<br /><br />Private Profit, Public Risk.<br /><br />Enel cashes the checks. Lowellians are burdened with the hidden costs. Not that they are really hidden. Those costs flow through the homes of hard working families.Jack Mitchellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-7263550292493458022011-01-21T10:41:21.373-05:002011-01-21T10:41:21.373-05:00I'm with you on education on the issue leading...I'm with you on education on the issue leading to strong sympathy to the homeowners and other folks both upstream and (should the bladder burst) down. Indeed, changing the rules in the middle of the game is my impression of the whole thing. I am also disappointed with the manner in which the river and canals are maintained by ENEL (e.g. getting a backhoe to pick up garbage and debris from one side of the dam and just toss them over into the river on the other side).<br /><br />That the proposal isn't being made with a figure to be paid for the privilege is the final sticking point with me. It's pure private profit, without any acknowledgment of the public interest.Craig Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09824029248081902170noreply@blogger.com