Sept 23, 2026

Update from the Grefs about the status of work toward dam removal.

In our last update, dated May 28, 2026, we talked about the process of sediment sampling in the lake bed of Lake Jefferson. The good news is that the sampling did indeed take place on June 2. A specialized sediment sampling boat was deployed on the eastern end of the lake, near the old Lake Jefferson Hotel overlook, and traveled throughout the lake, taking samples of the lake bottom.

The even better news is that the sediment samples received a clean bill of health from the laboratory. This means that any sediment that may be washed downstream after the removal of the spillway and dam contains no problematic pollutants. Sediment sampling is a requirement for any dam removal and it is conducted with the guidance and approval of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) in accordance with their standards.The clean results for the Lake Jefferson sediment are not altogether surprising given that the lake is not in an industrialized area. It is nonetheless an important factor in allowing the dam removal to go forward without a complex sediment remediation process.

Next steps for the dam removal project will be the continuation of the project design. The lead engineer from Redfish Engineering visited the site as recently as August 18 to gather additional information for the design phase.

In other news, the dam at Lake Jefferson is no longer under the jurisdiction of the federal government. Because the Lake Jefferson Project had been a hydroelectric power operation, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) had been overseeing it for the past 40 years. However, in preparation for the spillway and dam removal, the hydroelectric plant is no longer operating and FERC has stepped out of the regulatory role as of June 11, 2026. The dam is now under the jurisdiction of New York State and the NYS DEC dam safety section. This is an important step forward in allowing the non-profit project leader, American Rivers, to find appropriate funding for the project and to complete it in a timely fashion.

American Rivers and Redfish Engineering will be meeting with NYS DEC staff soon to begin the pre-permit application process for removing the dam.

Thanks very much for your continued interest in this public safety and environmental improvement project.

Jeffersonville Hydroelectric Co.
Kevin and Barbara Gref