Four towns in western Hancock County say they are on a tight timeline to find a way to take over two dams built decades ago to supply the defunct Bucksport paper mill.
The salvage company that bought the former mill is asking the state to let it abandon the dams, potentially releasing the water from them, using a 30-year-old Maine law that’s never been tested.
Now, representatives from Blue Hill, Orland, Penobscot and Surry want to form two quasi-municipal agencies to take over ownership and maintenance of the aging, hazardous dams on Alamoosook Lake and Toddy Pond. Costs would be split between the towns and waterfront property owners if voters in those communities approve the proposal.
A bipartisan bill allowing them to do so is now in front of state lawmakers. At a public hearing Monday, residents testified that this setup could be a model for other towns dealing with the state’s 500-plus aging dams. If the legislation goes through, the four Hancock County towns would likely hold individual votes on the proposal this fall. Supporters hope to pass the bill on an emergency basis so it takes effect before an upcoming October deadline in the dam abandonment process.
They also said time is running out to preserve their water bodies; if towns can’t take ownership, the environmental and economic consequences would be dire, residents fear.
“They are here for all of us,” George Schelling, of Orland, said about the water bodies. “They are not the exclusive enclave of people from away. We all use these ponds.”
American Iron & Metal, the salvage company that bought the Verso Paper site after the mill closed, asked the state last summer to let it abandon three dams, including the two on Alamoosook and Toddy, and a third on Silver Lake in Bucksport. That lake serves as Bucksport’s main water source and provides a backup for others during drought.
That dam is being dealt with separately by the town, said bill cosponsor Rep. Steve Bishop, R-Bucksport, who also sits on the Town Council. He said it does not have waterfront homes or recreation like the other two, and the town plans to talk with other groups including Maine Water about maintaining it.
The three dams did not provide hydropower, so they’re not appealing for a commercial buyer, Orland Select Board member Gina Bushong said in bill testimony. All three are labelled as “high hazard,” meaning people could die if they fail.
It’s not clear yet what it would cost to maintain them annually.
An initial estimate was $10,000 each, but engineers are working with newer data and should have final figures by the time residents would vote on a proposal, she said.
Opening a dam to buyers is one step in the abandonment process, followed by a determination of whether several state agencies should take responsibility for the dam. If neither happens by mid-October, the water may be released.
Engineers have estimated water levels would drop by eight feet, drastically changing wildlife habitat and year-round recreation opportunities which have helped drive the local economy for decades. At least nine businesses would close and others are concerned they might, according to the results of a survey shared in testimony.
Waterfront property values would also plummet, creating revenue problems for towns, especially those without much industry that get most of their tax income from residential properties.
Surry would lose about $400,000 of its $2 million municipal budget, according to Select Board chair Mary Allen. She described the overall effect of water being released as “catastrophic.”
Orland would lose half a million dollars from a $4 million budget, according to Bushong, meaning drastic cuts to services or higher taxes for residents.
The bill proposal splits costs between towns and waterfront property owners. If approved, it would create the Narramissic Regional Water District, composed of the Alamoosook Lake and Toddy Pond watershed management districts. Those would be governed by a set number of trustees appointed by town officials and elected by waterfront property owners.
Alamoosook’s district would only include representatives from Orland, while the Toddy district would also have representation from Blue Hill, Penobscot and Surry.
Most at Monday’s hearing supported the proposed bill, including some property owners. One said she felt it put too much of the burden on landowners, especially because towns can vote not to contribute their share. She also suggested holding funds in reserve for future needs.
Though she had problems with the bill language, she does support maintaining the water levels.
“We can’t imagine a future without that body of water,” said Phil Roberts, a board member of the Toddy Pond Association.
