Submitted Photo Pictured is the spillway, which needs maintenance, from a 2008 report from Chautauqua County on municipal water needs.

Connected to Fredonia’s recent water woes is a more significant problem that could be devastating in the future. Chris Surma, who was recently hired by the Village Board as a consultant for the water filtration plant, made this statement in December 2020 regarding the dam after heavy rains impacted the region: “I’m not an engineer, but people have told us and everyone has seen the damage up there from years of use, that could wipe out the whole village. It’s the one project I’d probably do.”

More than 2 1/2 years later, however, there has been no action — or improvements to an unstable structure. Water problems, normally in the village, only receive the spotlight when it comes to boil orders or discoloration. But the dam issue has to be a priority.

Of course, it depends on who is sending the message. Though previous working supervisors have voiced their concern, the most recent study by LaBella and Associates — the village engineer — did not speak of a current urgency.

“The DEC’s classification of unsound is just based on those two deficiencies, it doesn’t meet their expectation of capacity and drawdown,” said Tom Fitts of the Rochester engineering firm. “Our structural assessment turned up nothing that would deem it a risk (or) structurally unsafe.”

While that sounds reassuring, there is no guarantee. California has been inundated with flooding in recent weeks due to high winds and rains. It has left cities and neighborhoods underwater while creating chaos.

Though what’s happening out West is more than 2,500 miles away, it remains a scary sight. Fredonia’s water issues are more than just about drinking. It could also spell doomsday if something was to go wrong — or give way — at the hazardous dam site.