As Old Killingly Pond work continues, I-Team look at high risk CT dams 

KILLINGLY, Conn. (WFSB) - Concerns around the dam at Old Killingly Pond continue. The state tells us the condition of the dam is no longer considered an emergency but work still needs to be done. This got the I-Team thinking about how many dams in the state are at risk. It’s something we’ve been investigating for years.

Back in November, we told you, the dam at Old Killingly Pond was leaking. The private owner of the land lowered the water level by opening a low-level outlet. The state says an emergency was avoided, and a permanent fix in the works. But it’s not the only dam in the state to be worried about.

The next step at Old Killingly Pond, DEEP says, is to permanently remove a gate currently seated at the low-level outlet. Removing the gate would allow water to flow out of the bottom outlet and keep the water level down and the dam safe.

That’s what the current owners would like to do.

But the I-Team has learned that a town resident, Nick Weiss, is working to buy the dam from its current owner, and bring the water back.

Roger Cote works for Weiss. “The person I work for now is trying to acquire all this and fix the dams up so we can have our swimming hole back. Our eco system can go back to the way it used to be,” says Cote.

Weiss says he should have more answers next week.

A DEEP official says the dam is no longer considered at “imminent risk” because water is below the level where it was leaking. But until the private owner gets permanent fixes finished, it’s still considered a “significant hazard” dam, meaning it could result in loss of life and an increased flood risk.

The I-Team looked at the records and found 281 other dams in the state are considered a significant hazard. 298 are considered high hazard dams meaning if they were to fail, it would result in loss of life.

Old Killingly Pond is also considered to be in “unsatisfactory” condition. In Connecticut, a “Poor” or “Unsatisfactory” dam rating means state inspectors identified structural or operational deficiencies that require maintenance, repair or engineering intervention. It does not automatically mean a dam is on the verge of collapsing, but it indicates vulnerabilities that must be corrected.

How are they looked after?

DEEP has a dam safety program, it’s a team of 11 that oversee the state’s more than 4,000 dams. A spokesperson said they have their eyes on all dams considered hazards and work with the owners on maintaining them.

Records show there are 18 high risk dams, considered to be in Poor Condition. The owners for at least 5 of these dams currently have permits, or are applying for repair permits.

As the Old Killingly Pond dam, DEEP says the current owner of the dam is planning to submit a permit to make changes, they have until October 2026 to apply, but that could change if Nick Weiss takes over the property.

DEEP says the project is not anticipated to cause widespread drinking shortage or affects wells.