Mother of teen who died at controversial New Albany dam says she’s glad it’s coming down
By Madison Elliott
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NEW ALBANY, Ind. (WLKY) — The mother of a teenager who died at the site of a controversial New Albany dam says she’s happy it’s finally coming down.
On Memorial Day in 2024, 14-year-old A.J. Edwards Jr. drowned at the Providence Mill Dam along Silver Creek.
He got trapped in the recirculating current caused by the low-head dam.
His mother, Amanda Malott, described him as someone who had a big impact on the community.
“AJ was a very lovable person, he was very outgoing, he didn’t meet a stranger,” she said.
Following Edwards’ death last year, Mayor Jeff Gahan authorized the city to fill the dam with shot rock, but he did so without state or federal permits, and both the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville Office required the city to remove the fill, which didn’t happen.
So, the DNR took legal action.
After a lengthy court battle that lasted more than a year, the two sides settled, and the city agreed to remove the dam and relocate the rock.
“I think it’s awesome,” said Malott. “At least, some good came of this, you know. I feel like AJ saved a lot of lives.”
However, the news came a little too late to help her family.
“It’s something that should have been done years ago,” said Malott. “Why, you know, it was fought to be kept up is beyond me. If they would’ve taken it down, I would still have my son today.”
In 2021, the Ecosystems Connections Institute received a permit to take down the dam, but Gahan sued to stop it.
At the time, Gahan expressed his concerns over the potential impacts on flood control, recreation and historical value.
New Albany and the nonprofit seeking to remove the dam, River Heritage Conservancy, have remained in litigation.
“We do not know all of the details of this agreement,” stated Kent Lanum, board chair of the River Heritage Conservancy, in a statement.”But we do celebrate the fact that this dangerous dam is finally going to be removed, one that has taken a life as we sadly forewarned the City as early as 2021. This action will also allow Silver Creek to be opened back up for safe kayaking and revert to its natural state, healing over the next several years as the successive floods help to reestablish the creek’s natural bed to its original state and allow for the propagation of more wildlife and fish to call Silver Creek its home. This is a big win for all the citizens of this region. “
A question that remains central to this controversy is how much taxpayer money has been spent on litigation by the city.
The city hasn’t answered yet, but it’s a question that city council members and the community group Hoosier Action continue to ask.
“Why has it had to be so secretive?” said Cisa Kubley, Transparency Chapter Lead for Hoosier Action.
“I live very close to the dam, I walk by it regularly,” she continued. “This affects my life, my community, my neighbors. It’s absolutely unreasonable that we aren’t given basic information about our money.”
The RHC tells us its nonprofit has spent more than $1.25 million in legal fees.
WLKY reached out to the mayor’s office on Monday, asking how much has been spent on litigation so far.
While Gahan’s office didn’t directly answer our question, they said in part that in order to protect the city’s interests, they “will now be exploring our options to collect expenses that we have incurred.”
The city also now intends to file a permit for a rock riffle structure.
“Now that this matter is behind us, we can focus on our new addition to Silver Creek that will improve recreation, fishing, and the ecosystem for decades to come,” said Gahan in a statement online.
You can find his full statement here.
While the legal matter between the DNR and the city of New Albany is resolved, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still requiring the city to submit restoration plans.
“In response to the city’s previous request to meet with Corps personnel, a meeting was held between the Corps and city officials on Friday, December 5th to discuss the settlement with the DNR, the ongoing requirement for the city to submit an acceptable restoration plan to resolve the violations of federal law, and to clarify the information required to be included,” said a Corps spokesperson. “The Corps will evaluate the city’s restoration plan once submitted and will ensure an appropriate resolution to the violations of federal law.”
The agreement says by Jan. 1, the city will authorize ECI to remove the dam and issue any permits within its authority that are necessary to do so.
The DNR says construction will likely take place over the following months.
Also by Jan. 1, the city, by engaging its original contractor, will relocate the shot rock.
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