Naugatuck Valley Council Of Governments
Kinneytown Dam.
Correction: the original version of this story said FERC approved the removal of the dam. FERC has not approved the removal of the dam.
SEYMOUR – A project to tear down the defunct Kinneytown Dam – which obstructs migratory fish from accessing upstream habitats on the Naugatuck River – is set to receive a $25 million boost from the state.
A bill passed by the state House and Senate June 4 directs the state bond commission to grant that money toward the project.
“Design is only just getting started, so a lot can change, but our working timeline is for the dam removal to begin in 2027,” said Aaron Budris, environmental planning director for the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments. NVCOG is overseeing the project in partnership with Save the Sound, a New Haven-based nonprofit which pursues environmental justice efforts.
Budris said removing the dam is essential to the health of the river, its habitats, and the general public.
“Kinneytown Dam is seriously impacting the ecological health of the Naugatuck River, presents safety concerns, especially to the adjacent Metro North Waterbury Branch Rail Line, is a public health and safety concern in the adjacent neighborhood in Ansonia, is preventing residents from accessing recreational opportunities, and is keeping the Naugatuck Valley from realizing the full benefits of hundreds of millions of dollars invested to improve water quality and habitat,” Budris said.
In addition to the $25 million from the state, the project previously secured a $15 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), $1.6 million from the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and about $4.6 million from several other sources.
In total, some $46 million has been secured for the project. Budris estimated the total project cost at around $63 million, and said there is more than $18 million pending in funding requests.
The state bond commission still has to approve releasing the funds. Its next meeting is July 25, according to its calendar. An agenda hasn’t been posted yet. An earlier meeting for June 27 was canceled.
Budris said removing the dam will restore the river back to its natural course, reduce flood risks, and restore fish passage.
The Kinneytown Dam, constructed in 1844, generated power for Ansonia mills throughout its life. However, it has been inactive since 2013, and its existence blocks migratory fish from swimming upstream.
State And Local Leaders Grateful
Elected leaders said the dam, which no longer generates electricity, has become a safety hazard, a visual eyesore, and a fish killer.
“Removing old dams that have outlasted their usefulness is great for the environment, especially for native fish species like shad, alewife, and lamprey, and has the potential to increase tourism which boosts the local economy. This is great news for the Valley,” said state Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria, whose district includes Seymour.
Seymour First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis also weighed in.
“Thank you to all who made this possible — from our dedicated community advocates to our partners in government and generous supporters. Your commitment to securing the $25 million for the Kinneytown Dam removal project is a monumental step toward restoring the Naugatuck River, reviving its ecosystem, and reconnecting our communities to this vital natural resource.”
Downstream, in Ansonia, Mayor David Cassetti and state Rep. Kara Rochelle each told The Valley Indy in separate statements that they’re happy to see the project moving forward.
NVCOG Executive Director Rick Dunne said the state funds are key to bringing the project closer to reality. He thanked state officials for the aid.
“This is the key investment that will allow this project to move forward through total restoration of the Naugatuck River,” Dunne said.
Local environmentalist Kevin Zak brought the issue to NVCOG’s attention after spending ten years documenting fish dying at the base of the dam. Zak, who heads up the Naugatuck River Revival Group, said he was thrilled to learn about the financial shot in the arm from the state.
“You cannot put a price on a free-flowing river to the ocean,” Zak told the Valley Indy via an email. “The removal helps to reverse economic and environmental damage to this Valley. It puts weight into the term ‘environmental justice’ because of all the underserved communities it runs through. In other words, the removal would right a 181-year-old wrong. Quality of life in the Naugatuck Valley increases and its effect will last for a thousand years.”
History of the Dam
Zak said the Kinneytown Dam was built in 1844 and is some 30 feet high and spans over 400 feet across the Naugatuck River. The dam was built to divert water from the Naugatuck River into Ansonia to power Anson Phelps’ mills, Ansonia Copper & Brass, according to Zak.
A history of the dam prepared by NVCOG can be found here.
“I did not expect it (the dam removal) in my lifetime,” Zak said. “I just wanted to write the cookbook for the next generation or the one after that on how to get it removed. “So many people — too many to mention — have worked and are working hard to complete this project.”
Zak said the dam served its purpose early on but not anymore.
“In 1844 this dam was a big deal for the people in Ansonia,” Zak said. “It helped power Anson Phelps’ copper mill. It brought jobs. It was a great idea but there was just one problem, they ignored or did not see to include the future negative economic externalities in the equation. That legacy cost — the death of a beautiful river — was a high price to pay. It is now left for us to fix. Do we leave this to our children or our children’s children? The takeaway is, under the leadership of Executive Director Rick Dunne, the NVCOG and Save the Sound have taken this head on. From where I sit my money is on them.”
