Coastal Mountains Land Trust speaks out in support of dam removal

From the Coastal Mountains Land Trust website:

Letter from Coastal Mountains Land Trust re: Montgomery Dam Warrant Article #7

Dear friends and neighbors,

Since 1986, Coastal Mountains Land Trust has worked in Camden and throughout the Megunticook Watershed to conserve and steward 2,165 acres of conserved land, including the Fernald’s Neck, Hodson, and Bald Mountain Preserves. The Town of Camden’s upcoming vote on June 10, to either remove or restore on the Montgomery Dam, will have important consequences for the future of the watershed and on our work. We believe that the Megunticook River Citizens Advisory Council’s (MRCAC) recent recommendation to restore the mouth of the Megunticook River through the removal of the Montgomery Dam is worthy of close consideration.

Our mission is to permanently conserve land and connect people with nature throughout the western Penobscot Bay region. One of our core values is a land ethic that views our community as one not only comprised of humans, but also of soils, waters, plants, animals, and the land. We see that the well-being of people and the environment are closely intertwined. Healthier and more natural flowing rivers shape the natural landscape that supports wildlife and provides opportunities for people to connect with nature.

We recognize that dealing with aging dams is challenging; any action has tradeoffs. Dams often have benefits for local communities, such as maintaining water levels on lakes for recreation and certain wildlife. Most of the dams on the Megunticook River, including the Montgomery Dam, no longer serve their original purpose and have structural challenges. These issues need to be addressed, either through ongoing maintenance, reconstruction or, as with the Montgomery dam, potential removal. We believe this moment is an opportunity to create a new, healthier, and more climate-resilient future for the river and our community.

As highlighted in the MRCAC report, the removal of the Montgomery Dam represents a first step towards restoring a healthier ecology to the river and watershed. The report outlines the environmental benefits of restoring sea-run fish to the river, from improving water quality to providing more food for existing wildlife populations.

Removal of the Montgomery Dam alone will not restore sea-run fish to more than a small section of the watershed. But without its removal, no further restoration can happen. Ultimately, restoration of sea-run fish in the watershed, through removal of the first four dams on the river and the addition of fish ladders on the Seabright and Megunticook Lake dams, will improve the health and diversity of the entire ecosystem, not just fish populations. We believe these benefits will significantly improve the ecosystem health and resiliency of our conserved lands. Additionally, by removing the Montgomery Dam, Camden will also be in a better position to obtain the grant funding necessary to rebuild and care for the Seabright and Megunticook Lake dams, which we strongly support maintaining for their recreation value.

Additionally, we also agree with the Camden Public Library Board of Trustees and the Penobscot Indian Nation that the restoration of the river will offer exciting opportunities to increase recreational and educational access to the river in a restored intertidal area by the Camden Harbor Park. We believe that this proposal will continue to make Camden Harbor Park a focal point of the community where all people can recreate and connect to nature.

As the steward of land throughout the Megunticook River Watershed, Coastal Mountains Land Trust endorses the conclusion of the Committee’s report. We encourage our fellow citizens, members, and supporters in Camden to read the report and vote yes on Article 7. A yes vote is a vote to improve the health of the watershed and its most special natural places.

Submitted by behalf of Coastal Mountains Land Trust’s Board of Directors by Executive Director, Ian Stewart