SCITUATE – A gateway issue at the north branch of the Pawtuxet River caused a rapid drop in water levels late last week, affecting residents nearby and the Hope Pond Recreation Area.

The decrease in water is the result of failed restriction boards at the diversion gate alongside the Hope Dam, said officials. The breach is diverting water into the Hope Mill spillway and returning into the river south of the complex, creating a lack of water to the north of the dam.

John Robinson, director of the Scituate Emergency Management Agency office and fire chief of the Hope-Jackson Fire Department, told The Valley Breeze & Observer that the dam itself is not affected and is not causing the drop in water levels.

The Hope Pond Recreation Area, a popular spot for kayaking and paddleboarding, is su

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