Mission

:
To conserve wild Atlantic salmon, other sea run fish and their habitats, restore
a viable recreational salmon fishery and protect other important river, scenic,
recreational and ecological resources in eastern Maine. 
Public Informational Meeting – February 2, 2017

Presented by:
Joseph M. McLean, PE 
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• Assessment of Options
 Fish Passage Structures
 Nature-like
 Structural

 Dam Removal

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• Fish Passage Structures
 Operational Requirements
 Desired Species Passage
 Swimming Capabilities/Behavior
 Volume of Species Migration

 Long Term Maintenance

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• Dam Removal
 Existing Impoundment Uses
 Fire Protection
 Recreation
 Biological and Ecological Value

 Structural Considerations
 Condition
 Stability

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• Dam Removal Considerations
 Recreational Use (1,555 acres)
 Many Camps/Residences
 Active Fishing and Boating
 Good Structural Condition
 2005 Reconstruction
• Fishway Considerations
 Low Height
 Good Candidate for “Nature-like” Passage

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Rocky Lake Outlet
Alternative Risk/concern Benefit Cost

Nature Like Expensive Keep dam and flowage Dam
Fish Passage Limited fish passage efficiency Fish passage Modification/improve
(run time delay?) Aesthetically pleasing/tourist ments
destination
Low maintenance Fishway
Maintain wetland habitat at the $-Waiting for
Rocky Lake Flowage alternatives
Economic benefits (herring harvest,
lobster bait, food source)
Ecological benefits (for freshwater
and marine fish and wildlife)

No Action No fish passage Keep dam and impoundment Unknown
Loss of potential economic (cultural, historic and scenic values)
benefits (herring harvest, Low short term cost
lobster bait, food source) Maintain wetland habitat above dam
Loss of potential ecological at Rocky Lake
benefits (for freshwater and
marine fish and wildlife) 
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• Dam Removal Considerations
 Biological-Ecological Value
 Designated Area of Statewide Significance
 “Poor” Dam Condition
• Fishway Considerations
 Moderate Dam Height
 Possible Candidate for “Nature-like” Passage,
but Structural Fishways shall also be strongly
considered

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• Structural Inspection
 Performed November 29, 2016
 Classified as Intermediate Sized, Low-Hazard Dam
 Overall condition was found to be “Poor”
 Outlet Works Valve Vault
 Operation Integrity of Rodney Hunt Gate
 Deteriorated concrete and cracking on Auxiliary Spillway
 Minor leakage observed through Auxiliary Spillway (cracks
and ledge interface)
 Vegetation and Brush Growth on Earthen Embankment
Sections
 Erosion/Undermining of the Main Spillway abutment
 Similar Findings as Prior Engineering Inspection in 2010

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• Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analysis
 Does not have spillway capacity as currently
managed
 Overtops in a 50-year Storm Event (0.3 feet)
 Overtops in a 100-year Storm Event (0.8 feet)

 Does have spillway capacity with managed
with all gates open
 1 foot of freeboard in the 50-year storm
 Does not overtop in the 100-year storm

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• Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analysis
 Managing the Impoundment with all gates
open would reduce substantially lower the
impoundment
 Risk/Damage from Overtopping Events
Minimal
 Ledge along both Bridge Abutments

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• Preliminary Recommendations
 Remove/Demolish Extent of Dam in Poor
Condition, which no longer serves a
functional purpose
 Improve Spillway Conditions
 Approx. $75,000 to $150,000

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Orange River Flowage Dam (Lubec Power & Light)
Alternative Risk/concern Benefit Cost

Technical Fish Fish species limitation Keep dam and flowage Dam
Passage Cost Fish passage Modification/improvements
(Denil/Steeppass) Long term maintenance Requires dam restoration $75,000 - $150,000
Requires dam restoration Lower cost than nature like Fishway
Limited fish passage efficiency (run time Maintain wetland habitat at the Orange River $-Waiting for alternatives
delay?) Flowage
A drop in impoundment may impact Economic benefits (herring harvest, lobster bait,
important habitat above (may not be the food source)
case) Ecological benefits (for freshwater and marine
Could be negative impact of re- fish and wildlife)
introduced species on current population
Could be replacing one ecosystem for
another

Nature Like Fish Expensive Keep dam and flowage Dam
Passage Limited fish passage efficiency (run time Fish passage Modification/improvements
delay?) Requires dam restoration $75,000 - $150,000
A drop in impoundment may impact Aesthetically pleasing/tourist destination Fishway
important habitat above (may not be the Low maintenance $-Waiting for alternatives
case) Maintain wetland habitat at the Orange River
Could be negative impact of re- Flowage
introduced species on current population Economic benefits (herring harvest, lobster bait,
Could be replacing one ecosystem for food source)
another Ecological benefits (for freshwater and marine
fish and wildlife)

No Action No fish passage Keep dam and pond (cultural, historic and scenic Unknown
Loss of potential economic benefits values)
(herring harvest, lobster bait, food Keep existing fire water supply 
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• Dam Removal Considerations
 Historic and Cultural Value
 Fire Suppression Water Supply
 Dam Condition

• Fishway Considerations
 Substantial Dam Height
 Very Challenging Site for Nature-like Fishways
 Structural Fishways shall be principally considered

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• Whiting Fire Company
 Serves Portions of Whiting, Trescott, and Edmunds
• ISO Fire Insurance Rating (2007)
 Areas within five (5) road miles of Whiting Fire Station
 Whiting Classified as 8
 Trescott Classified as 7
 Edmunds Classified as 8
 Structures outside of the 5 mile area or with a water
need greater than 3,500 gpm are Classified as 10
 Classification Scale ranges from 1 to 10
 1 is exemplary, 10 does not meet minimum criteria

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• Preliminary Findings
 There are a variety of alternative sites for Fire
Suppression Water Supply Systems if the Whiting Corner
Dam is removed
 Maintaining Insurance Rating is possible with
development of cisterns in Whiting Corner
 Improvement to Insurance Rating is possible with
development of additional fire suppression water supply
sites
 Functional capabilities of fire protection systems (not just
insurance ratings) are also able to be maintained and
improved

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• Structural Inspection
 Performed November 29, 2016
 Classified as Intermediate Sized, Low-Hazard Dam
 Overall condition was found to be “Unsafe”
 Significant spalling and delamination of concrete face as well as
diagonal, vertical, and horizontal cracking on the Dam Crest,
Faces, and Training Wall
 Exposed stone rubble and timber
 Leakage through Dam at Downstream Face
 Undermining/Erosion at interface between bottom of wall and
ledge
 Inoperable Spillway and Low Level Outlet Gates
 Vegetation and Brush Growth
 Powerhouse is severely deteriorating and in eminent risk of
collapse
 No Known Prior Inspection Reports

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Orange River, Whiting, ME – Fish Passage Feasibility Study – February 2, 2017, Side 57 
• Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analysis
 Does not have spillway capacity as currently managed
 Overtops in a 50-year Storm Event (0.1 feet)
 Overtops in a 100-year Storm Event (0.5 feet)

 Does have spillway capacity managed with gates open
 1 foot of freeboard in the 50-year storm (5 feet of boards
removed)

 Risk/Damage due to overtopping is significant
 Significant Erosion/Environmental Damage
 Significant Uncontrolled Structural Failure could occur

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Orange River, Whiting, ME – Fish Passage Feasibility Study – February 2, 2017, Side 59 
• Preliminary Recommendations
 Repair Dam Structure and Improve Spillway
Conditions
 Approx. $700,000 to $1,400,000

 Demolish and Reconstruct Dam
 Approx. $1,100,000 to $1,500,000

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Whiting Mill Pond
Alternative Risk/concern Benefit Cost General Concerns/comments
Technical Fish Fish species limitation Keep dam and pond Dam Hirtoric registry could be helpful
Passage Cost Fish passage Modification/improvements for grant funding, may not
(Denil /Pool & weir) Long term maintenance Requires dam restoration $690,000 – $1,375,000 impede construction
Requires dam restoration Lower cost than nature like Fishway
Limited fish passage efficiency (run time Reduce public safety hazard $-Waiting for alternatives Dam liability falls on owners
delay?) Maintain wetland habitat at the Mill Pond (Downeast Salmon Federation)
Engineers reports not consistent with other Economic benefits (herring harvest, lobster bait, food
engineer observations source) The fire water supply is
Ecological benefits (for freshwater and marine fish and important to multiple
wildlife) surrounding towns, not just
Easy herring harvest Whiting
Keep existing fire water supply
Who would be responsible for
Nature Like Fish Expensive Keep dam and pond Dam future dam operation if a dam
Passage Limited fish passage efficiency (run time Fish passage Modification/improvements stays?
delay?) Requires dam restoration $690,000 – $1,375,000
Engineers reports not consistent with other Reduce public safety hazard Fishway Concerns that more emphasis is
engineer observations Aesthetically pleasing/tourist destination $-Waiting for alternatives being put on the importance of
Low maintenance fish than people/community
Maintain wetland habitat at the Mill Pond
Economic benefits (herring harvest, lobster bait, food Mill Pond is important for
source) recreating, swimming
Ecological benefits (for freshwater and marine fish and
wildlife) There could be negative
economic impacts of this
Dam Removal Alternative fire water supply required Reduce public safety hazard $150,000 – $300,000 project?
Loss of dam and pond (cultural, historic and 100% fish passage Fire water supply cost?
scenic values) No maintenance
Possibility of fire insurance increase Low cost
Loss of wetland habitat at the Mill Pond Economic benefits (herring harvest, lobster bait, food
Engineers reports not consistent with other source)
engineer observations Ecological benefits (for freshwater and marine fish and
Alternative water supply may freeze wildlife)
Could be landowner issues with alternative River restored
water supply
Who will carry the cost of fire water supply
improvements?
No Action Public safety hazard (attractive Keep dam and pond (cultural, historic and scenic Unknown Cost
nuisance/flood hazard) values)
No fish passage Keep existing fire water supply
Long term maintenance (cost) Low short term cost
Insurance costs Maintain wetland habitat at the Mill Pond
Unknown future cost (catastrophic failure –