New Haven, CT – The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) and Save the Sound will hold their first public community meeting around the removal of Kinneytown dam on Wednesday, August 28 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Ansonia Senior Center.
“It’s important to educate members of the public and provide them with an opportunity to ask questions,” says Jeff Baryla, Kinneytown community liaison. “A free-flowing Naugatuck River will improve quality of life, enhance public safety, and provide opportunities for economic development within Seymour and Ansonia.”
Long out of commission, Kinneytown Dam is a federally regulated hydroelectric facility that is authorized by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to generate electricity at two power plants: one at Kinneytown Dam in Seymour, and one at a smaller powerhouse below Coe Pond Dam in Ansonia. The Kinneytown Dam no longer serves any practical purpose, yet it blocks migratory fish from the Naugatuck River, presents flooding concerns both up- and downstream, and prohibits residents from safely engaging in recreational opportunities on the river.
“Community meetings for the Kinneytown Dam removal project are essential for ensuring that neighbors stay well-informed,” says Kayleigh Mihalko, Kinneytown community liaison and lifelong resident of Naugatuck Valley. “Transparency between the team and residents is a key priority. Such openness fosters trust and ensures that everyone is on the same page, making these meetings invaluable to the project’s success.”
NVCOG, in partnership with Save the Sound, received a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to decommission and deconstruct Kinneytown Dam. Dam removal will restore fish passage, eliminate dam safety and downstream flood concerns related to dam failure, improve water quality, restore natural sediment flows, and restore access to the Naugatuck River for residents and visitors.
Residents of Ansonia, Seymour, and other impacted communities are welcomed and encouraged to bring their questions about the Kinneytown dam removal project to this first public community meeting. The meeting will feature a short film screening, a discussion around the benefits of dam removal, Q&A, and more. This meeting will be offered both in person and virtually, with registration required. Food and childcare will be provided.
Kinneytown Dam Removal Community Meeting
Wednesday, August 28
Ansonia Senior Center, 65 Main St., Ansonia, CT, 06401 (second floor)
from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
You can find additional project details at www.nvcogct.gov/kinneytown and submit feedback, comments, and questions via our outreach form here