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Public hearing on Goldwyn dam opens questions of ownership, safety and costs
Summary
At a Nov. 24 Milford Board of Selectmen public hearing, Department of Environmental Services officials said the Goldwyn dam remains a low-hazard structure but is rated in poor condition; residents and property owners urged both retaining and removing the dam, while the owner has offered the town first right of refusal.
The Milford Board of Selectmen opened a public hearing Nov. 24 on whether the town should take ownership of the Goldwyn dam under RSA 41:14-a. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services told the board the structure’s hazard classification remains “low” based on storage volume, but the dam’s condition assessment is poor because part of the left abutment would overtop in a 50‑year storm.
Jim Weber of the DES Dam Bureau said the classification means the dam is lightly regulated under current rules: the agency charges an $800 annual registration fee, inspects the structure every six years and issues recommendations but does not require reconstruction or added discharge capacity for a low‑hazard dam. “We do not require you to do any reconstruction or repair…that is our current regulation for these dams,” Weber said.
Bill Thomas, also with DES, told residents the dam has inoperable components — concrete panels placed over gates during a prior reconstruction — and that maintenance or removal are typical owner considerations when repair costs grow. “Sometimes communities…start looking for funding or start showing interest in removal,” Thomas said, noting removal requires additional design, environmental study and state and federal permits.
Property owners and residents gave mixed testimony. Cindy Taylor of Housing Initiatives of New England, who owns the mill adjacent to the dam and holds deeded water and power rights, said removing the dam would lower water that now protects her building’s foundation and asked the board not to remove the structure. “If the dam goes away, that visual is gonna go away,” resident Dale White said, adding that Milford’s identity and views depend on the river impoundments. Other commenters urged the town to accept first refusal of ownership so it could control future options.
DES staff told the board they do not expect recognized downstream hazards if the structure failed, pointing to the dam’s survival of a similar overtopping event in 2007. Officials and members of river-restoration groups were identified during the hearing as having investigated removal options and feasibility previously; American Rivers has engaged with the owner and offered to help generate financial and liability estimates if the town pursues acquisition or removal.
The hearing closed after public comment. Chair Gary Daniels said a second required public hearing under RSA 41:14‑a will be held within 60 days; the board did not take final action on acquisition at the Nov. 24 meeting.
