Greater Smithtown coverage is brought to you in part by Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace. From fresh produce and prime meats to authentic Italian specialties, they’re proud to serve our families every day.
By Ed Romaine
After ample public input, the plan to rebuild the Stump Pond Dam in Smithtown advanced past the Council on Environmental Quality.
The council’s decision and findings now head to the Suffolk Legislature for approval.
I believe the Legislature will approve rebuilding the dam and restoring Stump Pond because it is the right decision.
The community delivered hundreds of letters and dozens of testimonies to the council, with those residing near the Blydenburgh County Park resoundingly in favor of rebuilding.
Anyone who listened knows why.
The residents of the surrounding communities miss the recreational opportunities once afforded to them by the pond.
For two centuries, they had grown accustomed to fishing, hiking, horseback riding and boating well before it became a public park.
Several residents even had stories of Mr. Weld, the property’s former owner, giving them permission, as children, to camp, swim, and boat at what is now Blydenburgh County Park.
Residents have waited long enough to reconnect with this treasured icon.
The loss of recreation has not been the only negative impact. The dam served as flood control for the area downstream of it. Public roadways, parks and private properties all stand along the shores of the Nissequogue and are now exposed to flooding.
The newly created ‘free-flowing river’ section, where the pond once stood, is also less than ideal for marine wildlife. The new section’s turbidity is too high for wildlife due to years of sediment buildup.
Engineers incorporated environmentalists’ concerns by installing a fish ladder that will allow local species to navigate between the impounded water and the downstream area.
The proposed solution from our engineering consultants balances the needs of all parties involved, bringing us to a better place than either the status quo or what was.
As I stated the day after the flood, I support the restoration of the Stump Pond Dam and look forward to its completion.
Mr. Romaine is the Suffolk County Executive.
Top: The August 2024 collapse of the Stump Pond dam during a record rainfall event caused the 100-acre waterbody to drain, releasing millions of gallons of water into the Nissequogue River. (Credit: GLI/Andrew Theodorakis, file)
