Residents, board raise contamination and funding worries as dam drawdown begins

A resident alerted the board that the drawdown would begin imminently, saying plainly: "Door down starts tomorrow." Board members and residents then spent significant time discussing water-level monitoring, contamination concerns, and the state's role in testing and remediation.

Participants noted state agency (DES) monitoring of some wells but also said the state indicated broad discretion over sampling and cleanup. The Chair said the town had heard that a $750,000 request had been made to fund a restoration plan but that officials at the meeting were uncertain whether that funding would be approved. One board member said the state’s approach left many unanswered questions about timing and cost and urged obtaining legal guidance.

Speakers raised public-health and economic concerns for residents who rely on shallow wells and for recreational uses tied to the lake. Board members discussed the two-step process described by state officials—draw down water to allow sampling and then, if necessary, removal and cleanup of contaminated sediments—and expressed concern about who would bear cleanup costs.

The board agreed to continue communications with their attorney and with other affected towns and to seek clarity on the timeline for drawdown, sampling results, and any possible injunction or legal action. No new formal liability or cleanup commitments were made at the meeting.