MANCHESTER - The demolition of the Dufresne Pond Dam may be put on hold on this year according to officials at the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.

Stream Flow Protection Coordinator for the Department of Environmental Conservation, Brian Fitzgerald, said that the window for projects such as the demolition of the dam is from July 1 until the end of September and if it was unable to be performed during that time frame that the project would be pushed back for a year.

Though the original intent was to begin demolition of the dam sometime between July 1 and Sept. 30, Fitzgerald said the time table was pushed back due to an appeal for a Dam Safety Order filed with the Environmental Court.

"It was filed. It was timely," said Fitzgerald. "About three weeks later the person withdrew the appeal and it was dismissed. At that point we tried to get the process going again because once the appeal was filed the whole process of contracting for the work went on hold."

Due to the appeal, Fitzgerald said that it was uncertain whether or not they would be able to complete the project this year given the window they are working with.

The work is performed from July until September to avoid the critical life stage periods of trout and because the river flow is typically lower during that period, Fitzgerald said.

A concern voiced by some Manchester residents concerning the dam's destruction was the loss of the pond as a fishing hole. Fitzgerald said the Vermont

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Department of Fish and Wildlife will be providing a similar fishing hole at Bullhead Pond, which is located off of Route 7 on the northern side of Manchester. Fitzgerald said he believed that the pond has already been stocked and that the Department of Fish and Wildlife planned to make some access improvements at that location.

According to previous reports, the proposed demolition of the dam - which was originally built in 1908 and then reconstructed in 1957 - is being considered because of safety issues associated with it.

In a previous interview, Fitzgerald said there is some uncontrolled seepage through the dam, which could create a problem over time. He also said that the spillway capacity of the dam is inadequate and the water periodically overtops, which could erode the dam because it is filled with earth, according to previous reports.

In a previous interview, Fitzgerald said it is believe the dam was originally constructed to provide water for an industrial operation that used to be located in the area. However, for the past several decades the area has only been used for recreational purposes.