Politics & Government

Johnston To Fix Four Dams After Environmental Violations

The dams: Jillson Reservoir, Oak Swamp Reservoir, Upper Simmons Reservoir and Lower Simmons Reservoir, were given a hazard classification of "high" by the Rhode Island Department of Management


Johnston has reached a tentative agreement to resolve environmental violations that warns the town's dams are unsafe, reports the Providence Journal. The four dams are located at Jillson Reservoir, Oak Swamp Reservoir, Upper Simmons Reservoir and Lower Simmons Reservoir.

The town will be allowed to make repairs as a manageable pace, Mayor Joseph M. Polisena told the Journal.   The deal is pending approval from the Town Council. 

DEM categorized the dams as unsafe in 2010, determined them unsafe due to inoperable low level outlets, a spillway that no longer functioned as originally constructed and severe erosion in the embankment.

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