DPW Commissioner Clears Air On Sharp’s Pond

October 24, 2019 Kassadee Bradshaw
Image of missing dam boards.
Photo provided by Dawn Bristol.

FULTON – What seemed like a normal course of action for DPW Commissioner CJ Smith turned out to be a bigger problem for Fulton resident Dawn Bristol in the fate of Sharp’s Pond. 

Bristol approached the Common Council during their meeting on Oct. 15 to inquire about why the boards for Sharp’s Pond’s dam had been removed and why the pond was draining. The councilors did not seem to know what she was talking about, and First Ward Councilor Tom Kenyon confirmed the confusion. 

Smith cleared the air with the council during their DPW committee meeting on Oct. 22. 

“Nothing in that project has progressed to any more of the extent than when we left the situation months ago,” Smith said.

He explained that he had met with the Department of Environmental Conservation on June 10 in regards to Sharp’s Pond to go over the pre-application and permit process to decommission the dam. 

Because the permitting process is so long, the DEC recommended to Smith to prepare in the meantime by removing stop logs – the wooden boards – to start reducing the water in the pond and allow for vegetation to take over. This would make the project next season easier to accomplish. 

“We’re the owners of the dam; we have the right to remove said stop logs,” Smith said. “What you’ve got to remember is the stop logs are not the dam… The dam is the concrete and the surrounding of [the stop logs].”

He said the DPW has been removing or replacing stop logs for several years and is not out of the norm for the city to do, and does not require a permit to do.

They began gradually reducing the water level of the pond by beginning to remove the stop logs from the dam in July. However, when they went to check on it, they discovered someone had cut new boards to put back in. Subsequently, the DPW had to take them back out. 

At the start of October, the DPW went to check on it again and saw the water level was back up and new boards had been placed. This kept happening so Smith said they had to fence off the area and put up No Trespassing signs. 

“Regardless of what our thoughts are on the pond, as of right now, we are decommissioning the dam. I can only do what our intentions are to do,” Smith said. “In order to do that, I have to remove these and get ready for that project next year, which should have been done this year. Had it not been for the social media aspect of it, it probably would have been done.”

Smith also said the DPW did not remove a beaver dam, and said the pile of branches near the stop logs was just debris that floated and gathered from the water flow. Fifth Ward Councilor Dennis Merlino said he believes the last of the beavers at the pond died this past summer. 

“That pond has been neglected for years,” Smith said. “The city has not expended any funds to make it any better. We have done nothing to maintain the dam. The dam’s intended purpose of harvesting ice is no longer a useful need.”

Smith said when the dam is decommissioned and it reverts back to its natural form, a creek, it will highlight Rowlee Beach Park, where the pond is located. 

He said while everyone is entitled to their own opinion regarding Sharp’s Pond, it was decided to decommission the dam to reduce the risk of a breach in the dam, which he said could potentially harm downstream properties and Route 3. 

“Bottom line, that’s the only thing we’ve voted on so far – to decommission the dam,” said Common Council President Don Patrick Jr. 

 

Previous coverage on Sharp’s Pond this year:

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10 Comments

  2. Why doesnt the city apply for a grant to save the dam?….. oh wait there is not any.

  3. I understand the great memories we all had of sharp ponds. I too remember the special hikes to sharp pond to go fishing. They all are nothing but great memories. But the reality is time and enormous costs has to keep this a great memory. I am asking us baby boomers in this city to do something for our city children and grandchildren. Let go of the idea to restore it.This was our memory not theirs. I would like to too see the dam gone and the pond area cleaned up.In its place is a well kept park with a rolling creek going thru it.We can bring our grandchildren there and tell them about the glory days.

  6. Paul & David, Paul you talk about taking your kids to a rebuilt fishing stream. And talking about the glory days, and David you agree with him. Have either of you taken you children to our fabulous downtown. And talked to them of the Glory Days of the Dizzy Block. I sure if you did they would turn to you and say “What the hell happened, why did you let that happy Gramps. Turn a once flourishing retail area into a Business park. Why because of Money. Well the same thing will happen with the area known as Rowlee Beach. Some will ask why did you let them destroy a fishing pond and swimming pool, to turn into a stream and park. Why didn’t you work with what you had Gramps amd build on that.You have a chance to save something unlike the downtown we once knew. Keep a fishing hole and build a park around it. Why because of Money. Why did it go into disrepair, because of money. If we didn’t have money to keep what we had up how are we going to build a rock lined stream and have money to maintain it. Every dime goes to paying the bills we have now and they are only going to increase. Why do you think I didn’t run for Mayor. No money no fun. It’s less expensive to repair than it is to rebuild. I thank you both for you input on this matter but I’m for getting a grant and fund the repairing of the dam and turning the area into a great gathering place for family picnics and fishing. Digging out the pool and fixing it and have kids swimming there again. There use to be over 100 kids a day there when it was nice. All of this could be done thru Friends of Fulton Parks they are great and do great work and only ask for volunteers no city funds. Keep the pond, build on it.

  7. There’s now a diminished flood risk and spawning fish can now go to the headwaters. The dam wasn’t installed to provide fishing and ice harvesting ended decades ago. Let…it…go… same as Neahtahwanta. As I’ve stated here a half-dozen times: Neahtahwanta is eutrophic and only billions of dollars can bring it back. The research has shown that the nitrogen and phosphorus entering the Lake is the source of the blooms, not blocked springs.

  8. Hey Frank it is great to here your voice on this! So glad to hear you are doing well. I know being you that I will never get the last word on this. That is why I have the utmost respect for your bulldog style and your courageous stands. So anyway here it goes. In a nutshell, For your grant money, SHOW ME THE MONEY and if your are successful how do you control the quality of the pond to swim in it. Lastly I would like to stock trout in my beautiful creek. This way I can fish with my grandchildren when I tell them about the glory days.

  10. Paul, I didn’t say to make it a swimming place again. I said to turn it back into a fishing place, picnic area, and open the pool up again. The grant money is out there just like it was 8 years ago only the city chose not to do an updated study on what was needed to repair the pool. I still don’t see you or David, downtown shopping and saying how great it use to be. Stock the pond with all fish, base,etc. This area like all city owned parks need to be maintained. Walking trails are going to cost 5 million to develop and no money to maintain or patrol. All for maybe 100 people that will use them. Pond would be used all year round if properly managed, ice skating, ice fishing. Just saying and Paul you can comment again and I will leave it at that because there is no more for me to say…Have a great day and stay out of the shed..LOL

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