Preserve Amherst Lake Launches First Seed Funding Campaign
July 1, 2023
PALVT has been working hard on a plan to restore the dam on Amherst Lake which we took possession of in December 2022. This has involved working closely with the state as well as a private engineering firm to begin the path to restoration. The restoration will be progressive and we are now able to anticipate phases which include:
An immediate field survey, hydrology analysis and development of engineering drawings
Applying the findings of step 1 to coordinate with the state to develop an RFP (Request for Proposal) that meets current dam requirements
Seeking competitive bids and selecting a winner
Restoration begins
We are approaching this restoration methodically, conservatively and transparently. During step 1, we will obtain key information that will result in the design and development of the construction documents for the dam restoration. With this in mind, we are launching our first round of fundraising against these and other known costs. This seed round will fund:
Task 1 Dam Inspection =$4000
Task 2 Field survey and base map preparation= $9000
Task 3 Hydraulics and hydrology analysis = $10,000
Annual cost of insurance: $6000
Annual operational costs: $2500 (post office box, closing fees, website hosting, printing, dam permits)
Our recent meetings with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
Water Investment Division, Dam Safety Program has indicated an encouraging environment and support for dam restoration. We are also encouraged by the precedent of other successful fundraising efforts to restore local dams such as Star Lake in Mt Holly and Curtis Pond in Calais, VT.
This is a community effort for a community benefit that cannot be accomplished or sustained without a collective solution and shared commitment. We urge you to give what you can now against the identified costs of the initial round outlined above to help us reach the seed stage goal.
While the pressing question on everyone’s mind relates to total cost and time to restore, we cannot isolate this explicit figure at this time other than to reference informal past estimates between $350,000 - $450,000, and to let you know that the work we are asking for funding now will be subtracted from the overall cost as well as inform the total cost. Further, no cliff or deadline would curtail restoration efforts and we will be working hard to move this project forward expediently.
In closing, we share that as a board, we are buoyed by the interest and support to date both from the community and the state. You have all helped us get this far. We are more than pleased to be at a stage where we can announce the launch of a first round of funding and we are committed to leading this effort through restoration.
We deeply thank those of you who have committed support and made donations to help us get this organization off the ground and to ensure PALVT’s ownership of the dam as a 501C3 non-profit organization.
We seek support from all sources, businesses, government agencies and individuals and we ask for your support now:
Please donate through our fundraising platform: https://givebutter.com/flDHCN
(We are using GiveButter because they charge less fees and a greater portion of your donation goes directly to dam restoration.) ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE BECAUSE WE ARE A 501(c)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION.
Add your energy and expertise to our organization: email us to get involved at board@palvt.org.
Thank you in advance for your support and please reach out with any questions to board@palvt.org and one of our board members will be pleased to speak to you personally.
There's a New Non-Profit In Town: Preserve Amherst Lake
Reprinted from Salt Ash Owners Association Newsletter
January 2023
There’s a new non-profit in town – Preserve Amherst Lake – https://www.palvt.org/. In just a few short months they have already accomplished several very significant goals: six motivated individuals with a shared devotion to preserve Amherst Lake have formed a 501c3 non-profit, have launched a successful petition and initial fundraising drive, and have purchased the dam and adjacent land which provides direct access. Their primary goal is to repair or replace the dam and then move forward to maintain the health of the lake while benefiting both ecological and human needs.
The new non-profit will have a seven-member board and is working hard to develop all the necessary requirements for its continued growth – bylaws, financial viability and a strong membership base that will sustain activities necessary to preserve and maintain the health of the lake into the future. The organization vows to be as transparent as possible while building both its member base and financial status. Clearly, the dam repair will be a sizable initial investment, so grants, donations, state and private funds are all being actively pursued.
PAL-VT is currently seeking engineering consults to provide a sound basis for pursuing competitive bids for the actual dam repair. While it remains to be seen what exactly the best option is, the hope is to bring the lake back to its original status while benefiting both those with property rights on the lake as well as all those in the surrounding community who value and enjoy the lake. The health of the natural environment including water quality, flora and fauna are high priorities.
While the original six individuals who banded to together to purchase the dam have accomplished a great deal so far, PAL-VT is seeking volunteers with expertise in the areas of financial management, fundraising, membership development, grant writing, event planning, and engineering. Those interested in helping can contact board@palvt.org.
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PALVT.org Makes a Splash with Launch this Summer
July 1, 2022
Anyone using the boat launch at the northern end of Lake Amherst will quickly see that the water
level of the lake is way down. A walk or drive on Scout Camp Road reveals two marshes in the process of drying up. The road is littered with bodies of frogs and salamanders. The river is so
low in places that the water has a greenish cast. What is going on?
A sign posted at the boat launch by the State of Vermont tells some of the story. “Notice — Due to public safety concerns with the condition of Amherst Lake Dam, the water surface is being
maintained at the current level for the foreseeable future.”
In response to the significant changes to the lake, with the imminent threat of further lowering of the lake level if the dam is removed, a nonprofit, PAL-VT Association, has been formed by concerned landowners and citizens. The mission is to preserve Amherst Lake, starting with saving the dam.
The dam, constructed in the 1950s by the power company, has been inspected by the state and deemed in need of repair if it is to remain. PAL-VT believes the dam can be repaired —estimates
range from $50,000 to $500,000 —and is seeking support, members and donations. PAL-VT has
applied for 501C3 tax status so donations are tax-exempt from the date the application was filed.
“We have to intervene now to preserve our lake and avoid the state’s determining the future,” says Richard Ruggiano, president of PAL-VT. “We intend to take ownership of the dam from the
current owners who plan to apply for a grant to remove the dam.”
Organizers of PAL-VT believe in the duty of the greater community to retain Amherst Lake’s beauty, ecological health, vitality and its role as a beloved recreational site.
For more information, contact board@palvt.org
Check out more Preserve Amherst Lake articles.