The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced the upcoming rehabilitation of the dam that impounds Chittening Pond on State Route 20 on Albert J. Woodford Memorial State Forest in Sangerfield.
Chittening Pond is a 70-acre pond that is home to a warm water fishery and provides habitat for a multitude of bird, amphibian, reptile, and mammal species.
Repairs to the 60-year old dam will include the spillway outlet pipes and the low-level outlet works to bring the dam into compliance with current State Dam Safety Regulations. Starting in April, DEC will slowly begin to lower the water level of Chittening Pond to allow for fish to move to deeper sections of the pond.
The launching of boats and fishing from the shoreline may not be possible as the water level of the pond decreases. Lowering the water level is necessary to reduce fish mortality during the rehabilitation project.
Construction will begin in June and is expected to continue through fall 2021. During construction, the…