Dighton residents upset with company’s proposed plan to drain Muddy Cove Pond

DIGHTON, Mass. (WLNE) — The future of a lake in Dighton hangs in the balance as a pharmaceutical giant weighs whether or not to mend its leaking dam.

Muddy Cove Dam is owned by AstraZeneca, connected to Imperial Chemical Industries, which was based in Dighton decades ago.

Though production has long since moved on, the company maintains control of the dam, and consequently, the future of the pond.

Ken Smith has been living on Main Street in Dighton for 35 years, and the lake has been a constant in his backyard.

“So many people use this body of water for recreation, there’s nice bass out here, the kids enjoy it,” Smith said.

Muddy Cove Pond has been a staple for in the town for decades, but Smith and his neighbors, Bill Correira and Kathryn McCarthy, said they recently learned it could be in jeopardy.

“We got a notice of intent from AstraZeneca, who owns the dam,” McCarthy said.

With leaks becoming a growing concern, a project has been proposed to lower the water level in the pond and potentially remove the dam.

“They want to take the dam down and just reduce this to an entire field of mud with a stream in the middle,” McCarthy said.

The Muddy Cove Dam was built back in 1950 on what was once Muddy Cove Brook.

Back in 2018, the town had an opportunity to accept the dam as part of a donation of land from AstraZeneca, nearly 20 years after production moved elsewhere.

The board of selectman determined it would be too costly to maintain.

Now the town’s engineering firm will have to provide a report to the conservation commission as it evaluates AstraZeneca’s latest proposal to drain the lake.

“Muddy Cove Pond Dam is privately owned by Zeneca Inc. Zeneca has applied to the Conservation Commission for permission to complete a full drawdown of the pond, in preparation for implementing a long-term solution, which would include dam removal.

As part of the standard review process, the Town’s engineering firm, Weston & Sampson, will evaluate the application and provide a report to the Commission. That report, relevant environmental law, and vital community input will guide the Commission’s decision.

The Town recognizes that residents have differing views about the future of the dam, and we encourage all interested parties to participate in the public process as the application is considered.”

“I’d like to know what the cost of that is compared to taking the dam down and fixing it,” Smith said.

Smith said anyone curious as to what draining the pond would look like should look no further than 2011, when the town built a new bridge on Main Street.

“They drained it down so far, there was a big fish kill here,” Smith said.

Those who live along Muddy Cove Pond say they also know its importance to the thousands of animals that pass through the area.

“There’s too much wildlife, too much depend on this, we have hundreds of geese that use this pond daily,” Correira said.

“We’ve got wood ducks that lay babies, we’ve got swans,” McCarthy said. “Mrs. Swan comes up and shows us her babies every year.”

McCarthy said she is trying to rally a group for a public hearing on the topic on Sept. 18.