Pond Drained to Support UXO Removal Action

New Boston, New Hampshire Nearly 70 million gallons of water and counting have been pumped from the Joe English Pond at the New Boston Air Force Station (AFS) over a five day period so crews can clear UXO from the area. The Joe English Pond and Dam Removal Project, authorized by 2002 Defense Authorization Act, will reduce the pond by approximately 20-25 acres so that the area can be cleared from UXO and put to recreational use.

The history of munitions use in the area dates back to 1942 when the Army Air Corps and Navy used the Joe English Pond as a bombing target. Areas around the New Boston AFS fence line were cleared in 2008-2009 with 135 MEC items recovered. Although several million gallons of water have been removed to date, the goal is to reduce the pond to its natural state prior Joe English Dam which doubled the size of the pond. The project is expected to be complete in 2013.