Selectmen authorize lowering of Reservoir Dam

After being briefed last week on some unexpected water seepage problems at Reservoir Pond Dam, the Board of Selectmen found the situation serious enough to lower the level of the dam until repairs can be made.

According to Town Administrator Charlie Aspinwall, the problems were recently discovered by the town’s consulting engineers, Stephens Associates. While the dam’s previous owners, the Napleton Company, had spent $350,000 on repairs prior to the town acquisition of Reservoir Pond in 2012, Stephens Associates found that the repairs did not fully address “uncontrolled seepage causing sinkholes nor the seepage entering the spillway culverts.”

Aspinwall said Tuesday that the water level was lowered two stop logs below sandbags that were put in place to try to address the seepage. “We expect the water level will be similar to what it was last summer during the dry spell,” he said. Aspinwall said it will temporarily reduce the seepage problem until a permanent solution can be achieved. He said there may be a request for a capital appropriation at the May town meeting.

Town officials will also meet with Stephens Associates to review their options and then report back to the selectmen. Officials are also awaiting a response from Canton Holdings LLC, successor to the Napleton Company. Selectmen Chairman Bob Burr said he is hoping that by the next selectmen’s meeting on March 7, there will be an official project timeline, cost estimates, and a determination on who will be paying for the repairs.

Past stories on the Reservoir Pond Dam

Rez in good shape heading into busy season

BOS, Napleton agree on dam repairs

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Posted by Mike Berger on Feb 24 2017. Filed under News, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.