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Federal Waterway Designation Could Impact Naples Causeway Bridge Result

April 27, 2008 - NAPLES -- Clarity, thy name is not government work.

The town of Naples has received a response from United States Army Corps of Engineers on whether the historic Standish to Harrison waterway, pinch-pointed at the Naples swinging bridge, should be classified as a "US navigable waterway."

The first answer was "it doesn't look like it".

But Naples town manager Derek Goodine read the accompanying explanation closely and felt the reasoning behind this judgment was faulty.

The distinction is important, because federal law requires the government to keep open historic navigable waterways to traditional traffic; building a fixed bridge at Naples Causeway, as the MDOT has suggested, would close off the Long Lake portion of the 45 mile waterway to larger boats, including some barges and large sailboats and to the Songo River Queen II.

Naples voters will provide straw-vote opinions at the polls on May 20 - whether they prefer a fixed bridge or swing bridge. The fixed bridge project would cost up to $8 million and the total MDOT project would include some improvements to the adjoining Causeway; it could be started in 2009. A swing bridge might cost up to $14.5 million; it would not get underway until a later date, because of state funding shortfalls.

The Penobscot, Kennebec and even Lake Umbagog on the Maine - New Hampshire border north of here, have been classified as navigable waterways under the federal designation, Goodine told selectmen Monday.

Jay Clement of the Corps of Engineers told the Naples manager that inland waters must have a historic connection to tidal waters, to fit under the designation.

That, however, Goodine said, describes precisely the background of the Sebago - Long Lake waterway, which for decades in the 19th century was served by steamers and barges of the approximate size of the Queen, and has remained open to larger boat traffic sinse. The current swing structure is due for replacement soon.

The Cumberland - Oxford Canal, Goodine pointed out, was established 170 years ago. The canal effectively made Harrison and inland sea port, of a minor class. Apples from Bethel and hats from Boston were shipped to and from Long Lake, back and forth to Portland, in the years before the railroads came. The lone surviving lock from the old canal is located at Songo lock, between Long Lake and Sebago Lake.

Since the navigable waterways designation may even serve to make the straw vote question moot, Naples would like to nail down an answer on it prior to the May 20 vote. Goodine's response letter to the federal government asks for an "emergency determination." Selectmen said the town is "looking for an official determination, in writing."

By Mike Corrigan, this article first appeared in the Bridgton News, April 24, 2008.


Lakes: Brandy Pond, Long Lake, Sebago Lake
Regions: Sebago


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