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Should Swanton Dam Be Removed?

Swanton, Vermont -- August 2, 2009

An old dispute over a dam on the Missisquoi River in Swanton is still a controversial issue. Should the dam stay or be removed?

There's been a dam here since 1790. But now there's a proposal to remove it to improve fish habitat. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Wayne LaRoche told Channel 3, "I'm characterizing it as the best fishery habitat restoration potential project in the state."

LaRoche says the dam made it impossible for fish to spawn upstream. He said, "If it was removed, it would allow lake sturgeon, which are endangered, walleye, potentially salmon, maybe even steelhead if you could build fisheries upstream, there's an abundance of spawning habitat."

But the idea of getting rid of it is controversial. Even Joe Allen, an avid fisherman, has his doubts. "I'm torn a little bit," he said. "The dam's always been there, it's part of the town's history."

Removing the dam would involve a lengthy permit process, incl9uding a review by the Army Corps of Engineers. And any plan to take it out is going to encounter stiff opposition right here in Swanton.

Just this past week, town and state officials dedicated a new bicycle and pedestrian bridge upstream. That's one reason the town remains adamantly opposed to removing the dam -- fearful that it would lower the river from ten feet deep to just four feet -- and that's in a wet year.

Harold Garrett, who chairs the Swanton Select board, said, "At a $2.8 million dollar bridge that has a scenic and a beautiful view, if you take out the water underneath it, it just doesn't make sense to have that beautiful bridge with no water underneath it. And that's the town's position."

Town officials say it's nothing personal. "We think Wayne -- commissioner LaRoche -- is doing a great job." Garrett added. "But this is one part of his job that we don't think he really needs to do."

But the prospect of drastically improving the local fishery has Joe Allen wondering. We asked what if it was up to him? "I guess I'd go with the fish," he said. "I'm sorry, but maybe I'm a little bit greedy, I don't know..."

Still, don't look for any quick decision on the future of the dam.

Andy Potter -- WCAX News