FARMINGTON – A panel of wildlife ecologists formed the basis of the second informational meeting regarding the Walton’s Mill Dam on Wednesday evening, sharing information on the potential impacts of removing the dam for other species.
Temple Stream became a designated crucial habitat site for the endangered Atlantic Salmon in 2009, putting the the town in the position of needing to take action at the dam. The dam currently barricades the fish from migrating and needs to be addressed according to the Endangered Species Act. The town has two options which will be voted on next month, to either remove the dam completely or install a fish ladder.
The Atlantic Salmon Federation, an organization dedicated to the conservation of the fish, has offered to cover the cost of removing the dam, as well as the installation of a park, the installation of a couple of new culverts that feed into the stream and some funds for annual maintenance. The total cost of that project, estimated at $1.2 million, would be paid for by ASF.
The other option, the installation of the fish passage on the dam, would require repairs to the dam itself, a 20-foot-tall structure built in the early 19th century. Fixing the dam has been estimated to cost $350,000. That would increase the fishway option to an estimated total of $750,000, excluding ongoing maintenance costs of the fish ladder which the town would be responsible for. ASF representatives have said that while they may be able to help raise some funds to assist the town in the project, most of that money would need to be provided by Farmington.
Some residents have voiced opposition to the removal of the dam, mainly because of the significant change in the landscape that the removal would most likely bring, but also for nostalgic reasons considering the dam’s history. Several town members at the meeting on Wednesday evening voiced concern for the other species that might be affected by the removal, such as the bald eagle that town members have reported seeing at the site.
“Anything you do to change an ecosystem will be detrimental to some species and beneficial to others. That’s to be expected,” Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Biologist Charles Hulsey said.
Hulsey went on to point out that the bald eagle is recovering rapidly from the endangered status it was at 40 years ago, and that for many water fowl and bird species in Maine, the ideal habitat is abundant.
“There’s really not a need for help there,” he said.
Other species, such as the large mouth bass, would most likely suffer with the removal of the dam due to the fact that they prefer warmer waters, but ultimately the river and surrounding area would be returned to its original state. Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services William Bennett said that most likely within a year the area would be recovered to its natural state.
“The river will find its equilibrium and the flood plain will revegetate fairly quickly,” Bennett said.
Bennett added that it would not only be the salmon that benefit from dam removal, but nearly all fish would be able to move freely, allowing them to grow larger. A fish ladder, in comparison, is specifically designed to help the salmon and not any other species. They also only see about 85 percent of the salmon successfully managing the ladder according to River Restoration Director of the Nature Conservancy of Maine Jeremy Bell.
“There’s no guarantee we’ll get salmon back, but if they can’t get to their native streams then it’s guaranteed they won’t come back,” Bell said.
The third and final informational meeting will be held Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. at the Farmington Recreation Department and will discuss experiences of other dam removal projects in Maine and what impacts the removal of the Walton’s Mill Dam and associated park enhancements could have for the town’s community, recreation and tourism.
For all the information being passed, we’re going to lose the dam. PERIOD! The supporters of dam removal will continue to put pressure on the town to do it “their way”. Fine. But AT WHAT PRICE???? They are offering the town $1.3 Million with the intention of subsidizing our infrastructure – a pure and simple bribe. So I say if they are willing to offer us that much, how much MORE will they offer us? I think it’s time we tell them NO- you’re not having our dam until you pony up one heck of a lot more that what you have offered.
How about another MILLION? We could set up a trust for the maintenance of the park. It wouldn’t take tax payers money to keep it nice for all those salmon fishermen.
Don’t trivialize opposition to the dam’s removal by calling it nostalgia or reducing the argument to eagles vs. salmon. The current marsh is a significant inland freshwater wetland with a lively ecosystem. Someday we might get salmon (or not) if the dam is removed, but we would certainly lose the abundant and diverse marsh/pond fauna we have now. It’s a huge gamble to destroy this environment for salmon that may not come. They now have other options. I hope we can protect here what we’ve created (albeit accidentally) for the other species, important and “trivial”–Walton’s Mill Pond and marshland is splendid, and unique.
Don’t reduce the argument to a salmon vs. eagle face-off or the “nostalgia” of us simple townsfolk. Walton’s Mill Pond/Marsh is a significant inland freshwater wetland. If we eliminate the dam we eliminate an important habitat for many species large and small. We will lose these animals and flora; the salmon may or may not come back. The salmon now have other options.
What a bunch of propaganda! Especially the last paragraph where it mentions the impact the dam removal will have on tourism! People worldwide will come gaze in awe at the park that saved the imaginary salmon.Lap it up my liberal friends.
if the dam is so important,why don’t all the people who want it get together and raise the needed funds for the rebuilding and fish ladder and future maint. costs. a million to get started and go from there,charge a fee for people to enjoy the beautiful ecosystem. why should the rest of us local tax payers handle the burden ? the fish and wild life are willing to help.let them foot the bill. after all the dam is not natural. let nature take iys course after the dam is gone.
I grew up in Farmington and we used to fish in the area where the Walton Mills Dam is now. STOP and LOOK at all the water ways be it brooks,streams or rivers where the dams have been removed and now there are not much if any improvement in fishing in them. The Kennebec and other rivers are much lower on the water levels and not many fish in them anymore because some areas have no fish in the rivers. It is sad to see the old ways are done away with at a very exspensive cost to towns
.
Will I be able to buy local Temple Stream salmon at Hannaford’s or will it be shipped to the flats?
Please note that the above comment is meant as satire.
Humans made the decision to alter the land. Man took land and molded it for his purposes without any further consideration of the impacts. We are now using our skills to find that the land would be better suited to return to its original state. Are any of you biologists? If you trusted the biologists on the bear bating referendum, why don’t you trust them on this one?
Sarah M, If you are an expert, please explain why you consider this dam and the surrounding marsh is “significant”
That right Farmington, fight change in any way possible!
Whty have phone when letters worked? Why have cars when horses worked just fine?
Why have electricity when oil lamps worked perfectly well?
Why have medicine when leaches and blood letting worked so well?
You fight that good fight !
Far North,,, what in the world are you talking about?
Nick,, it’s a common sense thing,, you wouldn’t understand.
BillieJoeBob,,, lol. Here’s the advertisement,, “TEMPLE SALMON,,ON SALE. $40,000/LB at your local Hannaford”…
Marjorie,, right on.
Resident Tax Payer,, see comment to Nick.
Nancy,, these salmon folks are living in la la Land,, with a big stick to hit us with.
What a bunch of BS this all is.
Enjoy throwing your money away.
Duh.
@ resident tax payer, if it doesn’t work that way for the school budget why should it for the dam?
Why cook when you can eat at Micky D’s?
Why have real conversation when there is social media?
Why exercise when we can take meds to lose weight and stay healthy?
Why think when we can have liberals think for everyone??
Now that’s far far north, eh?
Why is it that 1 person always has to push towards politics every time they make a comment on something ????
Okay, so let’s summarize this. The ASF is willing to foot the bill to remove the dam, at an estimated cost of 1.2 million, with no guarentee of the salmon return. The town can pay to “fix the dam” and ASF may contribute funds…HA, the whole proposal sounds FISHY to me, minus the fish.
Some are too confused to understand the importance of politics. For those folks I recommend relocating to Russia, Venezuela, etc. where political discourse is quickly ‘silenced’. However I doubt Putin has much sympathy for imaginary salmon lovers either….
I propose a litmus test for this. Let any electricity producing interest HAVE the dam if they agree to turn it into a productive site without ANY public funds. They could hook it right into the New England power grid and roll in money, right upstream from my house.
Once again we are going to argue about the dam. ATLANTIC RUN SALMON ARE NEVER GOING TO MAKE IT TO TEMPLE, this stream can hardly support a brook trout population, every year the fishery dept has to stock native brook trout into the stream at about 4 locations from west Farmington to temple
Just keep in mind that if you remove the dam you will never get permitted to put one back if hydro power is ever a option again.
The issue with government funded organizations such as these is they have to prove their worth and value in order to continue to received funding and keep their jobs. They look for places such as Farmington to go after. What are the chances that salmon will even reach these waters? Eggs have been set out in many place around the state for years and have you seen an increase in salmon? It’s a chin-scratcher to me.
I am not a liberal and I think it is a wise thing to remove the dam and get a new park and eliminate maintenance cost of a fish ladder that would alter the dam as well. Let’s be wise with our money here people and vote to remove the dam and get it funded and not have to pay for it. The dam is in need of some major repairs so why keep throwing money at an object that has no real purpose. Yes it is old but it serves no purpose.
I don’t a dog in this fight, but i would like to make a point as a business owner for many years. The federal
Government has literally millions of rules and regulations that i am supposed to know and follow as an
Employer and business owner. If i violate any of those rules and regs i could/will/might be fined heavily.
In the 30+ years i have been doing this, i have certainly violated many hundred of these rules and regs, often
Without any knowlege i did it. However, sometimes i violate a rule on purpose….for example….i get a letter
from the Department of Labor every year along with a multi-page survey that i “must” complete or i will be
fined up to $5000 or $10000 (Can’t remember exact figure). I get that survey every year….and i promptly
put it where it belongs…in the trash can. And a few months later i get another letter with more threatening verbage and i file that one too. I sometimes get a 3rd warning. What i am about to tell you is top secret….
so please don’t repeat this….or tell on me….ok??? Nothing has ever happened to me…not ever in 30 years !! Shhhhhhhhhh. And i get a similar type letter from the Dept of Agriculture every year because i once signed
Up to be a gentleman farmer many years ago. I have a few chickens and beef critter’s roaming around, but
The Department of Agriculture sends me a reallllllllly long survey that i “must” complete or i will get a hefty
Fine. You can probably guess what i do with that. Again….shhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
I grew up in West Farmington. My aunt and uncle lived below the dam. I remember watching the logs go down river, it was quite the sight. I also went skating on the river out back of Harry Knox’s before all the houses were torn down. I remember how the bathroom was headed to the river, in the house that belonged to Elgin and Bessie Decker(my aunt and uncle). I understand why the places had to be torn down. But why did it have to be changed. Let it go back to what it was. It was beautiful back then too.