Gov. McKee To Sign Bill Protecting Johnson's Pond In Coventry

COVENTRY, RI — Gov. Dan McKee on Friday will sign a bill protecting Johnson's Pond from its water level being lowered by its dam owner, a spokesperson for the governor said Thursday.

The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Lou Raptakis (D-Coventry), and passed both chambers of the State Legislature last month. When signed, the new law will require dam owners across Rhode Island to get permission from the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) to raise or lower water levels. Violators would face a fine of $60,000 per day.

The bill was sparked by a dispute between Coventry residents and dam owner Soscia Holding LLC. Residents did not approve of how owners were managing water levels and led to the Town Council calling on DEM to conduct an environmental study of the pond. Residents have argued parts of the pond have been drained to the point rocks and plant life were exposed. People also reported seeing dying fish and turtles.

Soscia Holdings ownership told WPRI 12 the bill takes away their rights as owners, but John Pascua, of the Johnson's Pond Civic Association, told the television station that's not the case.

"It doesn’t actually take away their rights at all. It just says much like private property when you are putting an addition on your home, you need permission to make sure you are doing it right and safely," Pascua told WPRI 12.