HEUVELTON -- A gate in a dam along the Oswegatchie River has failed, and repairs are underway.

“A water conveyance gate at Brookfield Renewable Power’s Heuvelton hydroelectric dam failed this morning," said Brookfield Renewable Power Chief Dam Safety Engineer Jeff Auser.

"The company is mobilizing to perform a temporary repair, which is expected to be completed by the end of the week," Auser said.

Auser said the gate failure is allowing water to drain from the pond at Heuvelton, "during which time points downstream on the Oswegatchie River will experience increased river flows.

"Once repairs are completed, Heuvelton pond will refill, but the public will notice lower elevations for at least several days," Auser said.

Auser is urging caution around the pond and at points downstream, but said that "the open gate should cause no public safety concerns."