Selectmen in the Town of Lakeville heard a technical briefing Jan. 7 on rising water levels in the Assawompsett Pond complex and a proposed cooperative operating approach with neighboring towns to reduce flood risk.

The presentation, delivered by resident and local watershed researcher Jim Kenny, outlined historical surface-water and groundwater measurements and showed that late 2018 surface levels were among the highest recorded in the last six to seven years — close to levels seen before the 2010–2011 flood period. Kenny told the board that those parallels create concern for the coming spring and that the town should take early, coordinated steps to reduce water volume in the upper watershed.

Kenny said the proposal has three parts: 1) documentation of current and historical water levels, 2) a set of operating recommendations intended to lower stored volume in the “Upper Nemasket/Upper Damaskett” catchment before heavy-precipitation seasons, and 3) photographic documentation of spillway and dam conditions. He recommended starting pre-emptive releases and holding certain downstream spillways at lower elevations beginning in autumn to create strategic flood-storage capacity upstream. "We have a concern for the coming spring," Kenny told the board, citing high surface and groundwater readings that mirror the run-up to past high-water years.

Selectmen repeatedly noted that Lakeville does not control all elements of the system and that any operating changes would require cooperation from Middleborough, the Taunton Water Works and state dam safety officials. Board members agreed to bring the package to a joint meeting with Middleborough selectmen scheduled for Jan. 14 and to provide the other town with Kenny’s full materials. Selectmen suggested the town clerk or administrator circulate Kenny’s packet and the letter he prepared in advance of that meeting.

Board members and members of the public discussed the monitoring history, prior committees formed to study long-term solutions, and the difficulty of forecasting rainfall — a critical variable in determining flood outcomes. Kenny and others emphasized that lowering the upstream dams earlier in the fall and maintaining lower spillway settings for an extended period could reduce risk if heavy spring rainfall occurs. Several participants noted the need for a standard operating procedure with frequent (weekly) monitoring and adjustment.

A resident in attendance said she had spoken with the state dam-safety office and was told those staff cannot attend external meetings in some circumstances but that the department could provide inspection input; board members asked staff to forward any inspection reports they receive to ensure Middleborough and Lakeville officials have that information before the Jan. 14 meeting.

The board did not vote on policy at the Jan. 7 meeting; instead members directed staff to forward Kenny’s materials and to raise the topic at the scheduled joint meeting with Middleborough.