Far from bailing out on the dam (Sept. 14), the Allen Pond Improvement Association is merely working within state law to develop options for the dam’s long-term maintenance and care.

While abandonment is a term often used, our efforts are more accurately described as seeking to be released from dam ownership and water level maintenance. We are attempting to do what we can to assure proper ownership of the dam, in light of overwhelming challenges faced by our small nonprofit organization.

People should not be alarmed by the formalities of the process. As the notice indicated, the filing is to initiate proceedings that begin a six to 12-month process from which APIA could withdraw at any time.

After receiving a state report indicating the dam is in an imminent state of failure, the APIA has responded. Among the financial challenges include a $4,600 estimate to obtain an estimate for repairing the dam, and annual insurance costs of $20,000 to $25,000. The organization can barely afford the cost of the estimate. The repairs would most likely be beyond its capacity, and the cost of annual insurance is unattainable.

Volunteers of the APIA are looking forward to a meeting on Sept. 28. We will do our best to answer the public’s questions. Should we falter, please remember we are volunteers trying to do our very best for Allen Pond.

David Casavant, Hampden

member of the Allen Pond Improvement Association and chairman of the Allen Pond Dam Committee