BEDFORD – The Indiana Department of Natural Resources will host a public meeting on March 4 to present preliminary findings from its study on the Williams Dam. The meeting will occur at 5:30 p.m. in Brinegar Hall at the Stone Gate Arts & Education Center in Bedford.
The DNR and its consultant, SWCA, will discuss options for addressing what officials describe as a failing dam structure. Potential solutions include complete removal, partial removal, or preservation with modifications.
Amy Amstutz-White, owner of Amstutz Tax Service and White River Bait & Tackle, urges community members and businesses to attend the meeting. She has spearheaded a grassroots effort to save the historic dam, collecting more than 10,000 signatures on a petition, with an additional 1,100 signatures gathered through Change.org.
“This place is more than stone and steel; it’s a haven where generations have come together to experience the peace and joy of nature, a sanctuary in a fast-changing world,” Amstutz-White wrote in her petition. “Taking it away would tear apart a part of our community’s soul.”
The Williams Dam, which opened in 1913, originally served as a hydroelectric facility, providing power to homes and local limestone industries until the 1950s. While no longer generating electricity, the 17-foot-high structure creates a popular recreational area featuring a boat launch, fishing spots, and picnic grounds, alongside remnants of a once-thriving campground.
The area surrounding the dam is also known for its ecological significance. It provides a habitat for endangered species, including the Indiana bat, freshwater mussels, and the American bald eagle.
DNR officials emphasize that no final decision has been made regarding the dam’s future.
