Work slated soon on Dead River dam
Copyright © 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
AUGUSTA — Work should begin next month on repairs to the Dead River flood-control dam that limits flood waters from the Androscoggin River from reaching Androscoggin Lake in Wayne and Leeds, a state environmental official says.
A final decision on the details should be made in a matter of days, said Mark Margerum, project manager for the Department of Environmental Protection. The dam is owned by the Department of Agriculture, but DEP officials are taking the lead in studying what repairs it needs.
"We hope very quickly to make a decision on the emergency temporary repairs and go ahead with that this fall," Margerum said.
Augusta engineering firm E-PRO Engineering and Environmental Consulting are likely lead the construction effort, Margerum said. He said they would subcontract with other companies to restore the dam's upper flashboards so it can hold back higher levels of Androscoggin River waters that are widely suspected of causing toxic and phosphorous pollution in the lake.
Margerum said there's agreement among nearby landowners and state engineers that the dam's damaged 2-foot wood flashboards should be extended to 3 feet.
"I'd say the general consensus of the public is to go with the 3-foot flashboards. We haven't made a final decision yet, but ... our consultant's engineer felt 3 feet was the preferred option."
In addition to the replacement of the flashboards and the metal pipes that hold them, Margerum said he expects measures to be taken to prevent further erosion around one end of the concrete dam.
"There has been some erosion centered on the west abutment of the dam and we feel it is very important to do something to correct (that) and bring the abutment up and level so it will not permit water going around it at times of high water," Margerum said. "Those are the two major things. There will probably also be some hazard-warning signage around the dam. That's pretty standard and there hasn't been any there for a long time."
The Legislature appropriated $40,000 for repairs. Margerum estimated that the repairs would likely cost $30,000 to $35,000.
"I think it will be a matter of weeks, possibly days," Margerum said. "It could be a couple of weeks. It's not a long-term project."
Meanwhile, a series of studies needed to assess the long-term future of the dam or possible replacements will continue, conducted by Margerum's department, its consultants and other government agencies, he said. These include studies of pollutants in Androscoggin Lake and alternatives that include inflatable rubber dams on the Dead River connecting the Androscoggin River and Androscoggin Lake to block flood waters, Those could cost as much as $5 million to buy and install.
The long-term study is funded with a $20,000 appropriation from lawmakers and is due to be submitted to the Legislature by Jan. 1, Margerum said.
Gary Remal — 623-3811, Ext. 518 gremal@centralmaine.com