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Scribner's Mill Dam Issue Headed Toward Proper Ruling

November 05, 2008 - It's hard to find anyone, even officials with the Department of Environmental Protection, who is not sympathetic to what Scribner's Mill Preservation Inc. wants to do on the Crooked River in Harrison.

The group has applied for permission to rebuild a dam on the Crooked so as to provide mechanical power to the mill, which is being restored as a living history museum. No doubt, being able to see exactly how water power was transferred from the river to a saw blade would add to the museum's authenticity and its educational value.

But the competing benefit of not rebuilding the dam is equally obvious and in this case overwhelming. While acknowledging the value of the museum restoration, the DEP issued a preliminary ruling recommending against building the dam.

It was the right call, because the Crooked above the dam is a prime spawning habitat for Sebago Lake's landlocked salmon population. While the dam could have been designed with a fish passage, in this case the resource in question is so important that building the dam is simply a chance not worth taking.

And though the historical restoration is inherently valuable, in terms of sheer economics, Sebago's landlocked salmon population represents a significant sport fishing resource as well as an environmental one. This is not the case of weighing environmental and sport fishing benefits against a dam that would supply power to tens of thousands of homes.

The DEP will make a final ruling on the dam in December, and if, as expected, it rules against the project, the Board of Environmental Protection should follow with a ruling upgrading the entire Crooked to AA status. Doing so would put the dam issue to rest permanently, which, given the costs and benefits involved, is the correct policy.

Friday October 31st, 2008
Portland Press Herald editorial

Lakes: Sebago Lake
Regions: Sebago


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