COVENTRY, R.I. (WPRI) — The town of Coventry is moving full steam ahead with its plans to acquire Johnson’s Pond , which could put to bed a years-long dispute with the owners of its dam and waterflow rights.

The Coventry Town Council passed an ordinance Tuesday night that makes plain the town’s intentions to purchase Johnson’s Pond from Soscia Holdings, which has owned the pond’s dam and waterflow rights since 2020.

If Soscia Holdings fails to negotiate a price in good faith, the town will take the necessary steps to condemn the pond and put it in the public domain.

This comes nearly a month after Soscia Holdings warned the R.I. Department of Environmental Management (DEM) that the spillway had sprung several leaks and was in need of emergency repairs.

The DEM ordered Soscia Holdings to cease and desist altering the dam spillway after the town spotted an excavator stacking boulders in an attempt to fortify it, but later directed them to shore it up with sandbags and temporarily lower the water levels to prevent it from failing.

Soscia Holdings has repeatedly blamed the town for the dam’s deterioration by claiming it wasn’t properly maintained. The dam’s maintenance was previously dictated by a now-expired lease between the town and Soscia Holdings.

But the town blames Soscia Holdings for the dam’s condition, arguing that the stacking of the boulders made it unsafe and caused unnecessary damage.

The Coventry Town Council has collectively determined that private ownership of the pond is “untenable” and is not in the best interests of “the environment, public safety, and public use of an benefit from recreational access to the pond,” according to the ordinance.

The ordinance notes that, once the town acquires Johnson’s Pond, it will register with the DEM as the dam’s owner. The town will also extend its insurance coverage to include the pond.

Upon taking ownership, the town will be responsible for maintaining the pond’s water level and bringing the dam into compliance.

In addition, the town will create a public benefit by redeveloping the pond for recreational use. The public benefit will allow the town to expand access to the pond itself, as well as boat ramps, parking and facilities.

The pond’s water levels have been a point of contention between Soscia Holdings, the town and the residents who live there.

Soscia Holdings filed a lawsuit two years ago against the DEM over a state law requiring dam owners to get a permit before raising or lowering a pond’s water levels. The law, signed by Gov. Dan McKee in July 2022 , was first introduced after residents expressed concerns over the pond’s low water levels and how it was impacting wildlife .

The lawsuit was dis m issed in March after a federal judge determined that Soscia Holdings couldn’t prove the law was “unreasonable or unnecessary.”

Soscia Holdings purchased the dam and waterflow rights for $1.7 million, but have since claimed those may now be worth upwards of $100 million.

The town’s last offer to Soscia Holdings was $1.5 million . It’s unclear whether Soscia Holdings has presented a counteroffer at this time.

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily Roundup

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.