earmarks: 46

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id fiscal_year chamber member_name member_last member_first bioguide_id party state district subcommittee recipient recipient_normalized project_description recipient_address amount_requested
46 2022 House Jake Auchincloss Auchincloss Jake A000148 Democrat MA   Homeland Security Somerset Emergency Dam Improvements SOMERSET EMERGENCY DAM IMPROVEMENTS The Somerset reservoir dam was created in 1964, and is the primary source of drinking water for the residents and businesses located in the town and approximately 100 customers in the Town of Dighton. The dam structure is an approximately 6,700 feet long earthen embankment dam with a maximum height of 48 feet and a storage capacity of 1.5 billion gallons. Based upon the age, size of the dam, the volume of water impounded and the level of downstream development the dam is considered a large size, High Hazard structure in accordance with current state dam safety regulations. The Somerset Water Department maintains and Emergency Action Plan that identifies 402 structures (mostly residential) and 887 individuals within the inundation zones. The inundation zone also contains a major state highway.Failure of the dam would be catastrophic; causing fatalities, damage to over 400 structures, loss of the drinking water to over 18,000 residents, destruction of the Water Department treatment facility and its chemical storage, and damage to major roads. Collapse, erosion, and overtopping of the dam would result in loss of life, significant damage to residential and commercial structures and infrastructure, and the loss of the impoundment serving as the Town’s primary water supply. Furthermore, for even smaller storm events that do not overtop the dam, the inadequate spillway could lead to saturation of the toe and erosion of the embankment that would lead to destabilization, and possible failure of the dam.In 2010, two significant storms effecting southeastern Massachusetts on March 13-15 produced 5.7” of rain and March 22-23 produced 2.6” of rain according to data from the National Weather Service. Rainfall for the month of March was reported at 16.34”. These events resulted in water lapping at the crest of the Somerset Reservoir dam, severe flooding north of the dam and activation of the Emergency Action Plan.Several Hydrologic/hydraulic studies have been completed to determine the capacity of the dam and the local response to unusual and severe storm events utilizing Atlas 14 and the ½ probable maximum flood as determined by HMR 51/52/ These models determined that the current dam system has hydraulic limitations that result in two primary concerns regarding dam safety and flooding. The concerns include overtopping of the dam and flooding along North Street. The requested dam design enhancement would include raising the elevation of the earthen dam approximately two feet. 140 Wood Street, Somerset, MA 02726 975000