The Wilton Select Board is taking a closer look at the dam at Frog Pond following new recommendations from the State Dam Bureau.
Frog Pond, a conservation area that straddles the Milford-Wilton border, contains enough water that if the dam failed, it could cause a serious flooding concern, as waters could flood up to Main Street. The dam, which is on the Wilton side of the pond, is aging and seeing some signs of deterioration, Selectman Kermit Williams said.
Frog Pond, located opposite Carnival Hill, is an artificial pond installed by E.J. Abbott in the 1920s as an emergency water supply for the Hillsborough Mill. Since 2005, the property has been maintained by the Wilton Conservation Commission as public land.
A recent analysis of the dam done by the State Dam Bureau highlighted potential concerns, and the town has been ordered to start the process of an engineering analysis and possible repairs for the dam.
Wilton recently completed a similar process on another town-owned dam, at the Wilton Reservoir, Williams said, a project that has been a lengthy process. Williams said the process for the Frog Pond dam is likely to be similar in scope and the amount of time it takes to complete.
The town has solicited bids for engineering for the Frog Pond dam and received two estimates which it reviewed Monday, but did not officially vote on a final candidate.
“These types of things are on a long schedule,” Williams said. “We do not have the money in the budget to do this work this year. We have seen the proposals, and we will move forward on this, but it may not happen quickly.”
Williams said the Select Board has not yet discussed whether the town will request funds for the engineering study through a warrant article or in the town’s budget, but said he himself favors it being a budget item.
“This is something we have to do,” Williams said. “It’s a requirement, and I wouldn’t want to make it an optional thing. If we don’t address the dam, the state will come down on us.”
Williams said while the dam is located on Wilton property, because it protects a water body that straddles the town line into Milford, Wilton may approach Milford to partner on the project.