There have been several well-intended writers who made false claims of how the dams on the Green River are good for aquatic life. As a professional biologist who restores damaged ecosystems, I am here to tell you that the majority of river dams are extremely harmful to aquatic life — that harm is well-documented in the scientific literature and is the reason dams, not just in Massachusetts but nationwide, are coming down.

Our rivers are the arteries of our natural systems, and dams are the cholesterol that clogs those arteries and prevent the movement of fish like brook trout and other organisms that evolved with free-flowing rivers. Even if you don’t care about the health of our rivers, you should care about dam costs.

Dams, like all massive infrastructure projects, were built at a time to serve what society or profit-driven companies viewed as a needed resource to fit a purpose (often to make money), but they were never intended to last forever. I am in agreement with the Historical Commission that their history is extremely important, to not only honor but to remember at least one thing: that environmental destruction always comes at a cost. A cost that is never paid for by those that profited from its demise, but instead is passed onto future generations to shoulder, and here we are.

If those dams were removed during former mayor William Martins’ tenure, the dismantling costs would likely have been half of what they are today, and Greenfield taxpayers would not have been on the hook for the current “emergency” $197,000 repair; money better spent on beneficial community improvements. So now is the time to take down the dam — the town has a partner in the Connecticut River Conservancy that is willing to do the hard work and shoulder most of the costs for the removal. Let’s not lose this opportunity.

Though I appreciate the Historical Commission’s dedication, they need to broaden their views. Our historical buildings and structures can be honored in many other and less expensive ways than by maintaining crumbling, hazardous, and environmentally harmful infrastructure. A historic plaque may not meet some people’s needs, but it’s not about them, it’s about our community’s commitment to having a healthy river that requires no maintenance fee.

The dam will be removed, the question is whether we will deal with it today or continue to kick that ever-increasing cost can down the road.

Tom Wansleben lives in Greenfield.