Stafford Pond Reservoir Regulations Top Tiverton Council Agenda

The Tiverton Town Council is asking residents to weigh in on the town's efforts to protect Stafford Pond - a public drinking water resource.

Tiverton is considering adopting stricter regulations for recreational uses of Stafford Pond, and limiting the scope of of the state Department of Environmental Management (DEM)-sponsored fishing tournaments.

On Monday the Town Council will conduct a public hearing at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall - the meeting is an opporutinty for residents to weigh in on proposed amendments to Chapter 15 of Tiverton's ordinance dealing with drinking water.

The amendments would redefine permitting process for tournaments held on town reservoirs like Stafford Pond.

Under the new ordinance, a tournament, which is defined as more than six boats, would now require a town permit - for a fee of $50 - from the town clerk to allow for the use of the Tiverton boat ramp.

Any group scheduling a tournament would also be required to pull a $1 million liability insurance policy that would cover any possible damage to the environment and water resource and the clean-up.

Applicants would be required to install Porta-Potties and trash receptacles 24 hours prior to DEM events and remove them no later than 24 hours after.

Applicants would also be required to hire a police detail for the two hours before the event, throughout the event and until one hour after the event.

Penalties are provided in the amount of up to $500 per instance.

The pond's waters serve as a primary drinking water resource to thousands of residents in the Stone Bridge Water District. The district's treatment plant is reportedly not capable of handling any kind of spill of gasoline, oil, or other inorganic substances.

The Tiverton Conservation Commission and the Town Council have been in discussions with DEM since January to reduce the risk of contamination to Stafford Pond.