Editorial: Almost every year the Smithfield River floods the coastal fishing community of Redhook, which annually spends $3 million on the cleanup  Some residents have proposed damming the river, which would cost $5 million but would prevent the flooding  However, their position is misguided  A dam would prevent nutrients in the river from flowing into the ocean  Fish that now feed on those nutrients would start feeding elsewhere
The loss of these fish would cost Redhook $10 million annually
The Smithfield River floods cost Redhook $3 million every year.