The latest news about Maine lakes and ponds.

Project to Remove Two Dams Along the Penobscot

August 26, 2008 - OLD TOWN — Conservationists said Thursday that they are moving forward with plans to remove two dams and install a fishway at a third to reopen hundreds of miles of Maine river habitat to Atlantic salmon and other sea-run fish.

The project, financed with $25 million in public and private money, calls for the elimination of the Veazie and Great Works dams and the construction of a fishway at the Howland Dam along the Penobscot River.

In return, Allentown, Pa.-based power producer PPL Corp. will be allowed to increase production of electricity at other dams along the river.

Besides PPL Corp., the project involves the Penobscot Indian tribe, seven conservation groups, and state and federal agencies, whose representatives joined Gov. John Baldacci to announce the purchase of the three PPL dams.

By exercising an option to buy the dams a year ahead of its expiration, project backers are avoiding a $1 million increase in the dams' purchase price, said Laura Rose Day, executive director of the Penobscot River Restoration Trust. The trust has also initiated the permitting process and completed preliminary designs for dam removal and bypass construction.

An agreement allows PPL to maintain virtually all of the power it produces along the river by increasing generation capacity at three dams and re-powering a dam at Orono, also along the Penobscot. PPL will also have an opportunity to recycle turbines at the three dams to be decommissioned, to increase generating capacity at the remaining dams.

PPL will enhance fish passages at four dams, including installation of a fish ladder at the Milford dam.

The Associated Press August 22, 2008


Lakes:
Regions: Bangor


Print this story

Email this story

return to Lake News