Master Plan for Cleansing Salisbury Pond

Worcester’s Salisbury Pond, a body of approximately 16 acres of water located near the campus of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, is ready for the next chapter in its remarkable history. Once pristine, the pond’s water is now significantly polluted. The pond is an artificial lake that was created when a dam was constructed in the 19th century to supply power to the Washburn and Moen factory situated along nearby Grove Street. That factory was one of the largest facilities of its kind in the United States and produced wire for a number of uses. Fortunately, the last half century of remediation efforts has produced significant information on how to address the pond’s rehabilitation. More recently, the City of Worcester commissioned engineering firm Weston and Sampson to produce a master plan for cleansing Salisbury Pond. That plan appears with these materials.