Black Brook looking to conduct engineering study on Fern Lake Dam

AU SABLE FORKS | The Town of Black Brook is seeking a $75,000 grant through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to do an engineering study on the Fern Lake Dam. "The only thing that concerns us right now is its age," said Town of Black Brook Supervisor Jon Douglass. "We would like to complete this study to determine the current condition of the dam and if any improvements need to be made." The Fern Lake Dam was built around 1912 as part of a water management network operated by the J&J Rogers Company to regulate the flow of the Ausable River. The company once owned the entire lake and surrounding timberlands, heavily using the area for mining, charcoal kilns, and logging operations. The J&J Rogers Company — once a major industrial powerhouse and paper maker based in Au Sable Forks, founded by brothers James and John Rogers sometime in the 1800s, that transitioned from an iron forge into a massive pulp and paper mill that employed up to 2,000 people — declared bankruptcy in the early 1970s, and ownership of Fern Lake ultimately fell into various new hands. "Today, a majority of the properties there are primarily owned by either seasonal residents or retirees from outside the area," said Douglass, "but everybody can still utilize Fern Lake." Often referred to as "The Jewel of Black Brook," Fern Lake is 1 mile across and 2 miles long, with the deepest part at 22 feet. There, locals and visitors can embark on the water via the town-owned dock on Narrows Road, which was upgraded within the last five years, for canoeing, kayaking, or boating. It's also known as a great spot for fishing for bullhead, pike, bass, and walleye. This engineering study will identify ways to help preserve this natural treasure. The DEC also requires owners of Class B (Intermediate Hazard) and Class C (High Hazard) dams to maintain a detailed Emergency Action Plan, which outlines step-by-step procedures to mitigate failure, notify officials, and warn downstream residents. "This engineering study will also tie into that plan, which we have to reupdate every 10 years," Douglass said. "We just want to make sure we do all we can to help preserve that area because it is such a big part of the Town of Black Brook." For more information or updates, visit blackbrookny.gov.

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Black Brook looking to conduct engineering study on Fern Lake Dam

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