My house is on the Manhan River in Easthampton close to the dam being considered for removal. I’ve lived here over 50 years.
Removal of the dam is a bad idea for several reasons. In the last 25 years nearly $2 million has been spent on first rehabbing the dam and then building the still functioning fish ladder. Costly dam removal would be a waste of tax dollars. Dam maintenance cost for the city is minimal and could perhaps be paid with CPA tax surcharge funds. No downriver structures would be threatened by a highly unlikely dam failure.
Retaining the dam would keep intact centuries old upriver wetlands and also popular fishing and boating use. I look forward to talking with whoever conducts the dam removal study if, as former mayor Michael Tautznik suggests, input from neighbors is encouraged.
Henry Walz
Easthampton