Maine Dam Gets Shorter Boards and Lower Waters: Why?
Published Date: 4/4/2025
Notice
Summary
Hydro Kennebec, LLC wants to temporarily change how their dam works by installing shorter flashboards and keeping the reservoir water level lower. This affects people near the Kennebec River in Maine and could change how the river looks or flows for a while. You have until April 28, 2025, to share your thoughts or ask to join the discussion—no money changes announced yet, but your voice matters!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Reservoir lowered 3 feet temporarily
Hydro Kennebec requests a temporary change to keep the reservoir at 78.0 feet (3 feet lower than the normal 81.0 feet) by installing 3-foot-high flashboards instead of the normal 6-foot-high flashboards. The change would be implemented as soon as personnel can safely access the spillway (shortly after spring runoff) and the normal flashboards will be restored no later than December 31, 2025.
Possible submerging of Fairfield rapids
Lowering the reservoir by 3 feet may submerge rapids near the town of Fairfield, which the applicant says could improve boater safety. This effect would occur during the temporary period while 3-foot flashboards are in place and before normal flashboards are reinstalled (no later than December 31, 2025).
Downstream fish passage kept usable
The applicant states the 3-foot lowering would keep the reservoir high enough to continue use of the downstream fish passage facility during repairs. That use would continue for the temporary period before the normal 6-foot flashboards are reinstalled (no later than December 31, 2025).
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