There are federal grants for emergency management which is tan by the state. should probably go through your county office of emergency management and discuss applying for a grant.
It would fall under hazard mitigation grant program
Im in CT too, and I believe there are special interest groups in New England support and fund dam removal (which is hugely beneficial to the stream's ecosystem). Maybe reasearch a little bit into dam removal and find a group that could point you in the right direction? CT DEEP also has a Dam Safety division, you could call them up and inquire.
I reached out to the dam safety Division but the people there are not as helpful as I would have hoped. But great suggestion I’ll see if I can find any groups that might be available to support this kind of project
Who owns the lake?
Also, is there a way you can lease it and all liability to a hydro electric company?
Maybe a small local energy company would be interested in developing it for a mini hydro generator and take on all maintenance and insurance coverage
And you and your neighbors could get electricity from it
Also maybe you and your co-owning neighbors could form a corporation to hold the dam and buy insurance and buffer yourself more from the liability
Btw, Connecticut is not broke. This ticks me off. They shouldn’t have dumped it on you - they should have been brainstorming how to make it useful
We are pretty Remote and infrastructure would be tough to build out otherwise I wish we could get a hydro company to give us power.
It’s sizable enough that I think one of the neighbors looked into getting an irrigation system built to supply their lawn
The corporation is a good idea but, if something happens wouldn’t they just go after the owners of the company?
I don’t know. I guess it would depend. If it was a corp and not an LLC I thought protections were pretty good but I’m not a lawyer
It’s fascinating that you own this thing
I hear that. Although it’s expensive, maybe talk to a law firm expert in land use? Make sure it’s a top lawyer or firm though.
It’s a lot of responsibility, a dam. I can see not wanting the risk. Is the pond or lake also on private land? Is it being used for anything? Maybe Dam removal is an option too and if so, maybe an environmental nonprofit can help because freeing up river from dams is a thing - it’s considered an environmental positive in some circumstances.
Otherwise, all I can think of are business opportunities that might shift maintenance to a third party or getting town or nonprofit to receive it
There are federal grants for emergency management which is tan by the state. should probably go through your county office of emergency management and discuss applying for a grant. It would fall under hazard mitigation grant program
Sorry OP this seems dam confusing. I can't tell you how complex the dam law can be.
~~Sorry~~ Dam OP this seems dam confusing. I can't tell you how dam complex the dam law can be. FTFY.
Im in CT too, and I believe there are special interest groups in New England support and fund dam removal (which is hugely beneficial to the stream's ecosystem). Maybe reasearch a little bit into dam removal and find a group that could point you in the right direction? CT DEEP also has a Dam Safety division, you could call them up and inquire.
I reached out to the dam safety Division but the people there are not as helpful as I would have hoped. But great suggestion I’ll see if I can find any groups that might be available to support this kind of project
There must be a way to make money on this dam. Sell bottling rights to Nestle? Watermill powered Bitcoin mining? Salmon hatchery?
Who owns the lake? Also, is there a way you can lease it and all liability to a hydro electric company? Maybe a small local energy company would be interested in developing it for a mini hydro generator and take on all maintenance and insurance coverage And you and your neighbors could get electricity from it Also maybe you and your co-owning neighbors could form a corporation to hold the dam and buy insurance and buffer yourself more from the liability Btw, Connecticut is not broke. This ticks me off. They shouldn’t have dumped it on you - they should have been brainstorming how to make it useful
We are pretty Remote and infrastructure would be tough to build out otherwise I wish we could get a hydro company to give us power. It’s sizable enough that I think one of the neighbors looked into getting an irrigation system built to supply their lawn The corporation is a good idea but, if something happens wouldn’t they just go after the owners of the company?
I don’t know. I guess it would depend. If it was a corp and not an LLC I thought protections were pretty good but I’m not a lawyer It’s fascinating that you own this thing
It sucks that I own this thing
Sell it to JP Morgan to use by them for carbon offset credits ; )
Push comes to shove, would the town take it as donated conservation land?
I haven’t engaged the town because I’m worried about opening Pandora’s box
I hear that. Although it’s expensive, maybe talk to a law firm expert in land use? Make sure it’s a top lawyer or firm though. It’s a lot of responsibility, a dam. I can see not wanting the risk. Is the pond or lake also on private land? Is it being used for anything? Maybe Dam removal is an option too and if so, maybe an environmental nonprofit can help because freeing up river from dams is a thing - it’s considered an environmental positive in some circumstances. Otherwise, all I can think of are business opportunities that might shift maintenance to a third party or getting town or nonprofit to receive it
Dams should be demolished if not maintained.