KILLINGLY, Conn. – A company that manages the dam for a lake that straddles the state border between Rhode Island and Connecticut has proposed permanently draining the water body, in a controversial initiative that has gone largely under the radar in neighboring Glocester.
Wright Investors’ Services Holdings Inc has recommended removal of the access gate at Killingly Pond Dam’s low-level outlet, a move that would reduce the pond’s water level by 15 feet, shrinking the surface area of the pond to less than 32 acres from its original 120 acres. The plan, which aims to increase safety of the 200-year-old dam, is now under review by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
In Rhode Island, most of the pond’s shoreline falls within the Killingly Pond Management Area, owned by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. The 396-acre property features hiking trails and supports deer hunting, according to RI DEM officials.
WISH opened the dam’s lower-level outlet in October to ease pressure on the structure, which shows signs of erosion and has been deemed a “significant hazard” since 2014 due to structural deficiencies. That effort has already lowered the pond by 12 feet, according to recent reports in Connecticut-based publication The Day by reporter Alison Cross, and has brought out opposition from many hoping to save the pond, used for recreation by generations of Killingly residents.
A petition that aims to save the pond had garnered 1,185 signatures as of this week.
“Old Killingly Pond is far more than a body of water; it is a generational cornerstone of Killingly’s history, identity, and environmental health,” the petition notes. “For decades, families have gathered here, creating memories tied to recreation, tradition, and a shared sense of place that cannot be replaced once lost.”
Opponents with the recently-formed Killingly Clean Water Coalition say efforts to decrease pressure on the dam threaten the town’s drinking water supply, noting the pond feeds a protected aquifer that recharges wells for thousands of residents.
“The proposed breach of the dam by WISH, the current owners, would drain the pond entirely, permanently erasing these memories and disrupting the headwaters that feed a protected aquifer critical to our town’s drinking water supply,” notes the campaign, started by Killingly resident Justen Fisher.
WISH, meanwhile, has said the company does not have money for the needed dam repairs. The owners have tried to get rid of the property and other surrounding dams more than once, with rejected offers to donate the lots to the state, and then later to the town of Killingly.
A write-up aimed at garnering support for the state to assume control of the dams notes “Natural underground springs in Old Killingly Pond contribute water to the entire Whetstone Brook watershed which is very clean and helps to maintain healthy water quality in Five Mile River and Quinebaug River for people, fish and other wildlife.”
Not all members of the Glocester Land Trust, meanwhile, were aware of the situation just over the state border as of this week. The trust’s mission is preservation of the town’s natural resources, rural heritage, and scenic beauty as an environmental, educational, and recreational resources It has conserved more than 2,429 acres of land in Glocester – but the Killingly Pond property falls to state control.
RI DEM Chief Public Affairs Officer Kim Keough said her agency has been kept apprised of the situation.
“The dam is in Connecticut and under the jurisdiction of CT DEEP’s dam safety team,” said Keough. “Now that the dam structure has been evaluated, CT DEEP’s dam safety program is considering the dam owner’s proposal to modify the dam to permanently maintain a lower pond level.”
For many of the town’s neighbors in Connecticut, however, it seems such a solution is not acceptable.
“We call on the state of Connecticut to hold the owners accountable for these long-neglected responsibilities and to require that the dam be repaired, ensuring Old Killingly Pond is preserved, protected, and responsibly managed for future generations,” it notes. “This affects everyone in town, once our clean drinking water is gone there is no getting it back.”
Killingly pond is an awesome pond. Very clear, cool water. As a R.I.er, I fish and swim there often. When there, I meet friendly families from both CT and R.I. who bring their children to the pond. It’s not just a pond, it’s a place where families can enjoy a day away from daily stress. I went to a town council meeting at the Killingly town hall and spoke during the open session. The meeting area was packed with voters that want the dam rebuilt by the owners. The owners have kept stalling the repair for a long time. Yes, this is a DEEP issue, but I hope everyone, including the R.I. DEM, would support the repair of the dam.
It amazes me how ownership of dams fall to private companies that might like having the rights but don’t want to bear the responsibility of maintaining dams. Hopefully the State of Connecticut will realize the negative of lowering the water level and step in to put a plan together to get the dam fixed. Maybe the Army Corps of Engineers should be involved and work with the State and the private owners.
I am a Trustee on the Glocester Land Trust and have been aware of this situation for over a decade. The RIDEM Killingly Pond Management Area is behind my house and have walked the Mowry Meadow area and the Cooke Estate Driftway gravel road, as shown on the map, many times since the state bought the area 25 years ago.
The GLT is not an abutter or have any property near this area. RIDEM and the few private land owners who have small cottages on the south shore are the ones who should keep appraised of the situation. I will note that repair to the Killingly Pond dam will certainly be expensive and likely to be in the million dollar range.