BRATTLEBORO — I am writing to express my concern about the plan to drain Sweet Pond in Guilford. I urge the state to reconsider this plan and reverse this decision.
While I have formal ties to Guilford through my work, my interest in preserving the pond is mostly personal.
My family and I, as well as many of my friends and their families, have spent many hours hiking and picnicking around this incredibly beautiful natural environment. The pond and its surrounding area provides busy folks a most serene and comforting spot in which to rest and appreciate the wonders of nature.
After spending time there with my family, we leave feeling spiritually restored and refreshed.
I am also concerned that after so many years of natural development, draining the pond will affect the ecology. Wildlife will be displaced, mature fish will die, and vegetation destroyed. The pond and its environs have developed into a stable and fully functioning biome.
Please, Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation: consider finding a way to fund rebuilding the dam with a design that would ensure the safety of all passing that way.