NORTH ATTLEBORO - Water levels in Falls Pond have been dropping the past few days as the town prepares to handle the rain that is expected to come with with Tropical Storm Hanna this weekend.

Fire Chief Peter Lamb said the gates were opened on Falls Pond on Wednesday and will remain open until about noon today to draw down the water levels in the pond. With lower water levels, the pond will be able to handle the 2 to 4 inches of rain expected to fall in the quick-moving storm, preventing flooding in lower sections of the 10 Mile River, which flows through downtown Attleboro.

Lamb said he met with Public Works Director Mark Hollowell, conservation commission members and Attleboro Fire Chief Ronald Churchill to discuss the plans to lower the water level.

Whiting's Pond Dam, which is farther upstream, was not opened because water levels were deemed to be appropriate there, Lamb said.

Preparations for the oncoming storm have illustrated a problem in the agreement between the town of North Attleboro and the city of Attleboro on how decisions about water levels in Falls Pond are made. The agreement currently only gives Lamb the authority to open the dam when there is a flood watch or flood warning in effect. However, Lamb said that by the time a flood warning or watch is called, it is too late to effectively drop water levels.

"I can't only be in charge when it's raining. I have to be in charge when the sun's out because that's when we have to let the water out," he said.

Selectmen have called for a meeting with the fire chief in the near future to discuss possible updates to the agreement between the two municipalities.