GREENE – After a state report stated the Allen Pond Dam is failing, residents approached selectmen Monday night in hopes of solving the problem before the state decides to remove it.

On July 20, a state report said the dam is consistently leaking and the stonework with patchwork concrete fill has developed cracks.

The report states that “the right dike is in an imminent state of failure” with a chance of a “possible blowout” if the issue is not addressed.

The dam is 140 feet long and 7 feet high, according to the state report. It has two 10-foot-wide stone dikes on each side of the spillway.

Should it give way or be removed, the dam would not endanger life because there are no residents living downstream, Selectman Mark Christman said.

It would, however, lower property values on the pond.

“If the dam is breached or gives, people will live on Allen Stream and not Allen Pond,” Selectman Kevin Mower said.

The state informed the caretakers of the dam since 1961, the nonprofit volunteer Allen Pond Improvement Association, to bring the matter before the town.

Speaking for the association, Allen Pond landowner David Casavant said that from a financial and liability perspective, the dam has become too much for the group to maintain.

“The dam will need some significant repair,” Casavant said, adding that a petition for the group to abandon the dam will shortly be presented to the state.

By issuing such a petition, the town will need to hold a public meeting to consider and act on municipal or county ownership of the dam within 60 days after the petition is presented.

“Let me reiterate that I am not convinced that abandoning the dam is in the best interest of the pond or the town, but that APIA may not have much of a choice,” Casavant wrote to Town Manager Charlie Noonan.

“I am hoping we can begin a cooperative initiative to expedite a solid resolution to dam ownership and maintenance.”

Board of Selectmen Chairman Ron Grant said he wants to help the group and understands the importance of the pond to the community, but at this stage the board’s hands are tied.

“It’s a private matter and we cannot expend money for repair on private property,” Grant said. “And to do such or even considering giving the dam to the town as a gift would have to go before taxpayers at annual town meeting.”

Casavant said the dam may not last that long and could give way in 10 years or overnight.

Currently there are approximately 30 people in the association and 200 lakeside landowners. Casavant said the association does not have the manpower or the bite to get the funding or knowledge out to the public to help get the repairs done.

He added that because of the nature of the group, it is not capable of obtaining an insurance plan or write to the state for funding.

Casavant said these are both available for municipalities.

Grant said lakeside property owners should have a vested interest in fixing the dam.

“Non-lake residents would not want to put money into the dam,” he said.

If nothing is done, the state may decide to remove the dam.

Before selectmen bring the question of ownership up to the town, it has asked to see an engineering report on what it will take to design a better dam.

Until a decision has been made, the association is working on having a fence placed around the dam to keep everyone away.