Kate Dempsey is state director of The Nature Conservancy in Maine and serves on the
board of the Kennebec River Restoration Trust.

For thousands of years, the Kennebec River has been the lifeblood of Central Maine. It has sustained people, wildlife and historic runs of native, sea-run fish that rivaled anything on the Eastern Seaboard, supporting vibrant fisheries in the Gulf of Maine.

Today, its waters generate electricity, support outdoor recreation and are vital to the operations of Sappi’s Somerset Mill. Last fall, The Nature Conservancy and Brookfield Renewable announced an agreement for the purchase of the four lowermost dams on the Kennebec River.

In the months since, there has been a lot of discussion about The Nature Conservancy’s intention to restore free-flowing conditions to this section of the river and what that might mean for the communities and economy of central Maine. We have seen time and again that where we have healthy rivers, we have healthy communities and healthy economies, and we are confident the same can be true on the Kennebec.

The Nature Conservancy and our partners have made clear from the start that we are 100% committed to developing a plan with Sappi to ensure the Somerset Mill’s water system needs are fully addressed as part of any long-term river restoration plan. Before The Nature Conservancy made an offer to Brookfield, we did substantial engineering analysis to be confident there are solutions that can address the mill’s needs and provide safe, timely and effective passage for sea-run fish like endangered Atlantic salmon.

No plan to decommission the Shawmut Dam will be advanced until a solution is identified that achieves both of these goals. Such a solution is not only possible, it is necessary.

Despite Sappi’s recent filings with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), our commitment to the mill and to a collaborative, multi-year river restoration process remains unchanged. In fact, once a viable solution is identified, The Nature Conservancy and our partners are ready to raise funds to make it a reality.

We have been encouraged by the constructive steps that The Nature Conservancy and Sappi have already taken together, including connecting our engineering teams to share information and explore possible solutions. Sappi has indicated to us that, in spite of its FERC filings, the company intends to continue that joint effort, and we take them at their word. This work will take time, but we are hopeful that updates on possible next steps can be shared publicly in the coming months.

A new organization, the Kennebec River Restoration Trust, has recently been established to take ownership of the dams and guide the process ahead. The Nature Conservancy and our partners have ensured that the Trust has the capacity to oversee these facilities, including raising a significant financial operating reserve and finalizing an agreement with Brookfield to continue safe, on-the-ground operations of the dams.

These operations will continue for at least the next few years, until state and federal regulatory agencies have approved a decommissioning plan. This plan will be developed through a multi-year process with local communities, municipalities, Sappi and other businesses, and many more.

A key part of this process will be the launch of an advisory council, where the expertise and perspectives of a diverse range of stakeholders will help guide planning for future decommissioning, redevelopment, and restoration of this section of the river. Once
formed, working groups will consider everything from flood risk reduction and energy
infrastructure to outdoor recreation and property redevelopment opportunities.

Another working group will build on discussions already underway with municipal leaders to explore creating a way for towns that receive property tax payments to continue receiving payments for some time after dams are decommissioned. We look forward to sharing more on the advisory council process soon.

If we work together on the Kennebec, we can restore the river’s ecological health, strengthen the region’s economic vitality and safeguard riverside communities. With thoughtful discussion, honest engagement, and a little patience, the restoration of the lower Kennebec River can benefit everyone and create a positive legacy for generations to come.