Town officials develop plan for fate of Dillsboro Dam

By Rose Hooper

"Or, will groups like U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who support the removal, have a more powerful voice?" asked board member Emma Wertenberger during an emergency Dillsboro town board meeting Jan. 15.

The possibility that the Federal Energy Regulatory Agency could make its decision independent of local recommendations was also discussed during the meeting called to prepare a strategy for Duke Power Co.

In preparing for its FERC relicensing project, Duke Power prepared a "trial balloon" for stakeholders to consider with regard to how continued licensure would benefit affected communities. One of the proposals in Duke's trial balloon is the removal of all or part of the Dillsboro Dam.

While members of the Tuckseigee Cooperative Stakeholder Team have heard comments for and against dam removal, neither it nor Duke Power has made any recommendations to date, said Fred Alexander, Duke Power-Nantahala Area's district manager.

Amid the controversy, Duke Power asked officials with the town of Dillsboro to float their own trial balloon. The town board held a public meeting Jan. 6 to gather citizen input; on Jan. 15 board members compiled that input, along with their own, to submit to Duke Power.

First and foremost, the town proposes the dam not be removed, said Mayor Jean Hartbarger.

"We realize the decision, the power, may be out of the town's hands, even out of Duke's hands. But rather than simply say, ŒDon't remove it,' we've developed a list of what we would like to see happen if the dam is removed," Hartbarger said.

The list asks that Duke Power continue ownership and liability of the dam site, powerhouse and surrounding property "until and for a reasonable time after the dam is removed." Also, Hartbarger said, the properties Duke proposes to give to the town must come with clear title and no restrictions.

"That includes the property known as the Œpole yard,'" Hartbarger said of property located at the bottom of Yellowbird Branch Road.

In its trial balloon, Duke Power suggested that if the dam is removed, Dillsboro would acquire Duke's property surrounding the dam, including the powerhouse and 3 acres across the river to be used for public recreation.

The banks of the river above and below the dam must be restored, according to the plan prepared by town officials, who are also requesting Duke Power provide an endowment for restoration of the plant building as a museum.

"We are going to need some kind of attraction to replace the economic value of the dam," Wertenberger said.

The town will additionally ask that Duke Power endow the creation and implementation of a program for schoolchildren and others about the history of the Dillsboro Dam and its role in the economic development of the area.

"We've conducted this exercise in good conscience," said Hartbarger. "We've honored the wishes of our citizens who propose that Duke Power not remove the dam. We hope, in turn, that Duke honors our wishes."

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