Public forum planned on Mayo mill dam project
DOVER-FOXCROFT — The town of Dover-Foxcroft and the steering committee for re-evaluating the next steps for the Mayo mill dam are inviting community members and interested parties to learn more about this initiative at a public forum scheduled for Tuesday, June 27 at the Central Hall Commons on East Main Street.
The event starts at 6 p.m. with refreshments and socializing prior to a formal presentation at 6:30 p.m. by the project team. A question-and-answer discussion will follow, and public input on the project will be sought. The forum will wrap up by 8 p.m.
Fifteen years ago, following the closure of Moosehead Mfg. Co., the town of Dover-Foxcroft acquired the Mayo mill dam on the Piscataquis River, with hopes of restoring hydropower production to provide electricity to adjacent properties. The town worked with several firms to assess the costs and potential for generating electricity again, but no viable option emerged. The hydropower facility has been non-operational since 2008.
Now, the town has to evaluate a new path forward to manage the aging dam structure while also meeting state and federal compliance regulations. Dover-Foxcroft has partnered with Atlantic Salmon Federation, The Nature Conservancy in Maine, and Inter-Fluve, Inc. to complete a community-based feasibility study at no cost to the town. Funding for the study is provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries through the federal Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act.
The town convened a steering committee, which has been meeting monthly with the partnership team since January. In the late fall of this year, steering committee members will review presented alternatives and make a recommendation to the Select Board for a viable solution at the Mayo mill dam in downtown Dover-Foxcroft.
“We want our community members to be very familiar with this process,” said Town Manager Jack Clukey. “The feasibility study alternatives will reflect the values, visions and concerns of our community, so we’re inviting the community to come be a part of it.”
The June 27 event will feature a presentation with an overview on the status of the Mayo mill dam and associated powerhouse and fishway, compliance and regulation needs, the decision-making process, timeline and goals of the feasibility study. A panel made up of the partnership team and steering committee members will then answer questions and capture feedback from the audience.
Project Team members:
The town of Dover-Foxcroft is the largest town with a population of 4,422, and is the seat of Piscataquis County.
The Atlantic Salmon Federation is an international non-governmental organization dedicated to conserving and restoring wild Atlantic salmon and their ecosystems.
The Nature Conservancy is a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends, and working across Maine to restore rivers and streams.
Inter-Fluve is an employee-owned small business that has been on the forefront of river and stream engineering, management, and restoration practice.