WPRI — McKee signs bill to protect Johnson’s Pond

Jul 15, 2023

By Sarah Doiron, Anita Baffoni — COVENTRY, R.I. (WPRI) — Gov. Dan McKee ceremoniously signed legislation Friday designed to protect Johnson’s Pond and other dams across the state.

The legislation requires dam owners to get clearance from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) before raising or lowering water levels.

McKee said this legislation has been “a long time coming.”

“Johnson’s Pond is a vital asset and a tremendous resource for the community and for the hundreds of residents who live along the water, and they have been greatly impacted by water levels that have been either too high or too low,” McKee said.

The law took effect two weeks ago, and the DEM has already sent a cease-and-desist letter to Soscia Holdings, which purchased the Coventry pond’s dam and water flow rights back in 2020.

…