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State Blocks Crooked River Dam

January 14, 2009 - HARRISON -- A state agency has given its final answer to a group working to restore a 160-year-old sawmill on the Crooked River in Harrison: No dam can be rebuilt to power the mill.

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection issued a preliminary ruling against a new Scribner's Mill dam in October. After considering final arguments from the historic preservation group, the agency issued its final denial today.

While restoration of the mill is a worthy goal, the agency said, the dam poses too much of a threat to the valuable landlocked salmon population of Sebago Lake. Salmon from the lake swim up the Crooked River to spawn and the dam, even with a fish passageway, would prevent too many fish from reaching the spawning and nursery grounds. An impoundment behind the dam also would support rival warm-water species such as bass, it said.

Scribner's Mill had a dam until it was breached in 1972. The preservation group, which can still appeal the DEP decision, had argued that fish would be able to get around the rebuilt dam and that other alternatives, such as a gasoline motor, would create pollution.

Conservation groups opposed the idea of a new dam, saying a wild salmon population such as Sebago's was too important and too rare.

Thursday January 8th, 2009

by John Richardson, staff writer
Portland Press Herald news update


Lakes: Sebago Lake
Regions: Sebago


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