GREENFIELD — The Historical Commission made its case for the preservation of the Wiley-Russell Dam Thursday in a meeting attended by officials from the Connecticut River Conservancy and Mayor Ginny Desorgher’s office.

The meeting followed Desorgher’s signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Connecticut River Conservancy to remove the city-owned dam earlier this month.

Although Desorgher initially told the Greenfield Recorder that she planned to remove both the Wiley-Russell Dam as well as the Electric Light and Power Dam, Connecticut River Conservancy Executive Director Rebecca Todd said the signed memorandum serves as an agreement to remove the Wiley-Russell Dam and to lower and install a fish ladder at the Electric Light and Power Dam, which is located less than half a mile upstream from the Wiley-Russell Dam.

While proponents of removing the Wiley-Russell Dam argue that it will protect species of fish and other aquatic wildlife and reduce the area’s risk of flooding, the Historical Commission has been outspoken in its opposition to its removal for more than a decade, arguing that its ties to both the city and nation’s industrial history make it a landmark worthy of protection. Todd added that the dam’s removal would come at no cost to the city.

“We believe that there are tremendous historical resources here that are being underappreciated and underutilized, and that we are missing opportunities to educate the public,” Todd said. “As part of restoring the [Green River’s] natural history, we also want to highlight the human history we have, and we want to do that in a way that is educational, that preserves what we can, but also the environmental impacts, particularly given climate change, are significant.”

Historical Commission Chair John Passiglia argued against the dam’s removal, saying he could not find any evidence of migratory fish that populate the river, and stressing that the structure’s status as “recommended for listing” on the National Register of Historic Places requires the State Historic Preservation Office to review any demolition plans that involve either state or federal funding.

In response to Todd’s argument that the dam’s removal would impact the environment positively, and possibly mitigate some of the negative impacts of climate change, Passiglia and other commissioners asked Todd what, exactly, dam removal would accomplish for the environment.

“You think that given climate change — I have lilacs blooming in my yard, lilacs and cherry blossoms blooming now in November — you think given climate change, that taking out those dams and putting in fish ladders is going to encourage fish to do, what exactly? What would exactly come out of all this that’s going to create some sort of pre-human natural landscape? I’m confused how that would happen,” Historical Commission member Tim Blagg inquired. “Has there ever been, in the history of the town, any account of any kind of anadromous fish or species going up the Green River? Because I’ve looked at everything I could find, and I have never found anything that said anything about fish going up the Green River to spawn or do anything else.”

Rebecca Budd, of the Connecticut River Conservancy, listed some species of fish in the Green River and noted that while the protection of aquatic life is an important facet of the nonprofit’s efforts to remove the dam, it is not the conservancy’s sole motivation. Budd added that the conservancy plans to pursue “historical preservation” of the Wiley-Russell Dam.

In response to Budd’s remarks, commissioners countered that a plaque or dedication to the dam held little meaning, compared to preservation of the dam itself.

“It’s not just about fish,” Budd said. “That’s what we’ve been sort of saying all along, it’s about re-establishing connectivity, improving habitat quality, improving public access, and I think as part of our project here to include recognition of historical aspects of the dams.”

The Department of Public Works is currently seeking about $197,000 in city funding for emergency repairs to the Electric Light and Power Dam. After Passiglia repeatedly requested access to the memorandum of understanding, Desorgher’s Chief of Staff Erin Anhalt said the documents could only be acquired through a public records request.

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.