DECRules Madrid Dam Needs Repairs

MADRID - A 480-foot concrete dam on the Grasse River in Madrid is in an advanced stage of deterioration and needs to be repaired in the near future, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Madrid Town Supervisor Joseph A. Finnegan said the town, which owns the dam, is exploring both public and private funding options for fixing or replacing the structure.

Mr. Finnegan said the town is exploring three options. The first option is to simply do remedial repairs on the aging dam, the second choice is to undertake a complete upgrade of the structure and the third choice is to develop a small hydro electric facility where the dam now stands.

"We are kind of hoping that with the emphasis on green power and things like that, we may be eligible for some funding to develop a small hydro site here," Mr. Finnegan said. "In the interim, we've also asked for the availability for grant money and any type of aid from the federal or state governments that might help us get through the remedial stage to stabilize it."

The DEC inspected the dam last summer and found five main deficiencies, according to DEC spokesman Stephen W. Litwhiler. He said dam safety engineers concluded that the spillway's concrete structures are all in an advanced stage of deterioration.

The dam on the Grasse River in Madrid is known as the "Mill Dam" to locals and was originally built in the late 1800s when a number of manufacturing businesses utilizing water power were located in the hamlet, according to Mr. Finnegan.

Mr. Litwhiler said the Madrid dam is designated by the state as a Class A-Low Hazard dam, meaning that if the structure failed it could do damage to isolated buildings and roads downstream.

Mr. Litwhiler said the DEC has recommended that the town monitor and address the dam's deficiencies as soon as possible, but the agency does not intend to fine the municipality over the structural problems.

Mr. Finnegan said the town board organized a special committee in January and has held several meetings since then to explore options for replacing or repairing the old dam. He said an engineering study has been done and government representatives contacted in an attempt to find funding for the project.

He said town officials will also be reaching out to the private sector if public funds can't be obtained.

"We haven't ruled out going to private developers, we've got a very active committee that is very interested in this and we basically gave them the direction to go out there and turn over every stone that you can," Mr. Finnegan said. "If we can offer some tax incentives it might make it attractive to private developers as well. We aren't married to the idea of municipal development. We just want to see that dam stabilized and developed."

With a municipal budget of about $500,000, Mr. Finnegan said it is not practical for the town to consider trying to replace the dam on its own. However, he said the dam is ultimately the town's responsibility and, if needed, the municipality could bond enough money to at least make sure the structure remains safe.

"We're all a bunch of North Country farm boys here, so even if we have to use a little duct tape and bailing twine we'll get it fixed up somehow," he said.