Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Dam Maintenance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bill would create shorefront fee for dam repairs; stakeholders call for broader funding mix
Summary
Rep. Derby proposed HB1655 to levy a flat fee on shorefront parcels tied to state‑owned dams to seed a dam maintenance fund. DEES and the Dam Bureau outlined a $414 million repair backlog and said revenue sources have dwindled; lake associations, timberland owners and some towns urged a more diversified funding approach.
Representative Will Derby told the committee HB1655 would create a dedicated dam‑maintenance funding source by charging a flat fee on shorefront parcels with deeded waterfront access where state dams control water levels. He said the measure is intended as one of several funding tools and defended asking waterfront beneficiaries to help contribute while exempting farms and current‑use parcels.
DEES Chief Dam Bureau engineer Corey Clark and Dam Bureau staff described how the state acquired many dams mid‑century and how hydropower rents that once funded maintenance have largely disappeared. Clark said a 2023 estimate put the cost to repair and bring state‑owned dams into standard condition at roughly $414 million, with about $300 million tied to the 64 high‑hazard dams; the bureau currently operates on roughly $7–8 million per year and estimates about $16 million a year would be needed to address the backlog over decades.
Representatives of New Hampshire Lakes and other lake associations said they support finding durable funding but opposed placing the bulk of the burden on shorefront property owners, noting the bill’s projected $3 million/year yield would fall far short of the estimated need and could be regressive for some owners. Timberland owners warned a per‑parcel flat fee could penalize current‑use timberland and non‑recreational shoreline. The Department of Revenue Administration raised technical concerns about parcel identification and suggested DEES may be better placed to compile an initial parcel list.
DEES said it is open to owner transfer or dam removal where appropriate and noted the agency already offers property transfer options and removal when maintenance is not feasible. Representative Derby said he expected to file further drafting amendments to address some DRRA and DEES technical points.
Ending: Committee agreed to hold HB1655 for amendment; sponsors and agency staff signaled willingness to work on technical fixes and broader funding options.
