HARTFORD – Attorney Michael Poulin presented seven scenarios Tuesday for the future ownership of the Lake Anasgunticook dam in Canton.

Dam owner Ray Fortier is under orders to repair the dam. The dam committee anticipates that an engineering report due Thursday will indicate that the required repairs are so extensive that Fortier will abandon the dam.

The committee will look into the feasibility of various ownership options. Committee Chairman Malcolm Ray indicated that the most logical plan was for the town of Canton to assume ownership with the town of Hartford sharing in operating costs. Other plans would have Hartford and possibly the Canton Water District share in ownership.

The committee discussed what style of dam would be used to replace the defective one if it cannot be repaired. Malcolm Ray, a professor of civil engineering at Worcester, Mass., Polytechnic Institute, said that incorporating the required flood control features into the dam will increase its cost. The existing dam does not meet state guidelines for flood control.

Poulin indicated that if no one assumes the responsibility to repair or replace the dam, the state would assume control and probably remove it.

Loss of the dam would be devastating to the two towns because of the decreased value of lakefront property. Rodney Turnbull said residents would be facing large tax increases if nothing is done to save the dam. Judy Hamilton stated that 81 of the 1,170 properties in Hartford are on the lake. While they only represent 6.9 percent of the individual properties and 1.1 percent of the total acreage in Hartford, they comprise 12 percent of the town’s total value.

The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Canton Town Office.

If the engineering report is not available, the meeting will be postponed until the following week.