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Mamaroneck trustees approve $82,000 engineering study of dam amid ownership and flooding concerns
Summary
The board approved an $82,000 engineering study of the Mamaroneck Dam to address DEC non‑compliance and evaluate repair, mitigation or decommissioning; residents pressed for a village‑wide flood plan and questioned why the village must fund work on a dam owned by Westchester Joint Water Works.
Trustees on Dec. 9 approved a contract to fund an $82,000 engineering analysis of the Mamaroneck Dam after state regulators classified the structure as non‑compliant and high hazard.
The study, presented by staff, will analyze options including repair, elevation, spillway work or decommissioning and assess downstream flood impacts and grant eligibility. "That is part of this analysis," staff said, adding the work is needed to resolve the outstanding DEC violation and to make the village eligible for grants that could pay for remedies.
The decision followed extended public comment and trustee debate over timing, risk and ownership. Several residents urged caution about decommissioning the dam without a comprehensive flood‑mitigation plan. "Decommissioning a dam just made me nauseous and scared," said Laura Boddy, a member of the traffic commission and the Washingtonville Neighborhood Association, who described repeated personal losses to flooding. "Before we even consider decommissioning a dam, it's not — we need a plan."
Other speakers questioned whether the village should pay while Westchester Joint Water Works (WJWW) owns the dam. A resident said the village was "ordered to do this study" and urged staff to reserve the village’s rights to seek reimbursement from WJWW later. Trustees and staff said the village had limited options because the DEC is enforcing a timeline and daily penalties were possible for noncompliance; approving the study was framed as a way to avoid fines and preserve access to grant funding.
Trustees said earlier studies exist but described this work as the next, DEC‑required step to define mitigation costs and impacts. "We have to do this study no matter what we do," one trustee said, arguing the analysis is necessary whether the village seeks decommissioning or repair.
The vote authorizes staff to execute the engineering contract and directs the village attorney to reserve rights to dispute ownership and pursue reimbursement from WJWW if appropriate. The study will also inform grant applications and further environmental review; trustees said additional public engagement and coordination with the Joint Water Works will follow.
The board voted in favor of the study. The village will discuss next steps and potential reimbursement with WJWW and monitor DEC timelines moving forward.
