The northeast's recent onslaught of storms has led to an unexpected and concerning development at the Wilder Dam. The force of the elevated river flows, coupled with the debris churned up by the tempest, resulted in the loss of vital boater safety buoys situated above the dam. According to the City of Lebanon's official notice, the Great River Hydro, which maintains the dam, is actively striving to rectify the situation, yet a clear timeline for the restoration of these crucial safeguards is presently absent.
In the interim, caution is the word of the moment. The local authorities and Great River Hydro are urging both boaters and swimmers to exercise restraint and prudence by steering clear of the river access points, particularly those upstream of the Wilder Dam. The guidance comes amid ongoing concerns for public safety, with the river's unpredictable currents heightened by the recent weather aberrations. This advisory will stand until the boater safety buoys are once again in place and the river's flows have normalized.
The absence of the buoys poses an unseen danger, as they serve as critical markers alerting water-goers to the unsafe proximity to the dam. In their absence, the risk of accidents increases significantly, warranting the call for heightened vigilance from residents and visitors alike. This is not a matter of leisure constrained but of calamity preempted—and thus, the community is called upon to heed these warnings with the gravity they demand.
Great River Hydro's efforts to remedy the situation are ongoing, and officials have noted their commitment to ensuring that such critical safety measures are reinstated as swiftly as possible. In an era where the unexpected has become almost routine, the resilience of a community is nevertheless tested—not just in its infrastructure, but in the shared responsibility for each other's well-being. Updates on the re-establishment of the safety measures will be provided as they become available, with the deeply felt hope that normalcy—and safety—will soon return to the Wilder Dam.
