The Metropolitan District may have to suspend releases from the Goodwin Dam due to ongoing drought conditions throughout the state.
The Goodwin Dam, located in Hartland, creates the West Branch Reservoir, downstream of Colebrook River Lake. The dam is used to control stream flows along the West Branch of the Farmington River.
MDC said the drought has caused water levels to drop so low that the reservoir may be exhausted by mid-November without precipitation. MDC will continue releases from the Goodwin Dam until the West Branch Reservoir reaches a minimum elevation of around 590 feet. At that time, the corporation will suspend releases.
“This action will at least preserve and maintain adequate habitat for fish and wildlife living in or on the reservoir during these fall and winter months. It is essential to support a reasonable level of recreation on the reservoir, and to protect the remaining capacity against further drought conditions and the ability to continue releases to the river in the spring,” MDC said in a release.
MDC is working with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which owns a portion of Colebrook River Lake.
