Natural Security: Augusta, Maine
From Working River to Restored River
Challenge
For much of its history, Augusta, Maine has relied on the Kennebec River as a primary driver of the local economy. The Edwards Dam was built just north of downtown in 1837 to power sawmills, a grist mill and a machine shop. Following construction of the Dam, both commercial and recreational fishing essentially disappeared as populations of Atlantic salmon, alewife, shad and sturgeon plummeted. Raw sewage and effluent from industries was piped to the river, severely degrading water quality. With depleted fisheries and declining water quality, the community of Augusta largely turned its back on the polluted river, and few people viewed it as an economic resource. Instead, it was viewed as an open sewer.
Beginning with the Clean Water Act of 1972, water quality began to improve. Yet, one major obstacle stood in the way of a healthy Kennebec: The Edwards Dam. While the Kennebec and its tributaries have numerous dams, the Edwards Dam was the first obstruction encountered by migratory fish headed upstream to their spawning grounds, making it especially destructive. It stood as the key barrier to the river’s recovery.
Approach
Removal of the Edwards Dam was the culmination of a decades-long effort to revive the Kennebec River and its fisheries. The struggle centered on the dam’s 30-year operating license, which expired in 1993 and would have to be renewed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to continue operations. Environmental groups and fishermen opposed a new license, arguing that removal of the dam would be more cost effective and better for the local economy, residents and fish and wildlife.
After years of study and debate, FERC Commissioners voted to remove the dam in November 1997. Dam removal began in June of 1999 and was completed on October 12, 1999, opening a 17 mile stretch of river to flow freely for the first time in 162 years. The agreement also required fish passage at seven upstream dams and called for a partnership between Augusta and the state to improve the Kennebec River waterfront. In response, the city formed the Capitol Riverfront Improvement District (CRID) to provide access to the river, protect scenic characteristics and promote economic initiatives. The State Planning Office restored the dam’s former mill site which later became Mill Park, a community resource with 17 acres of park space along the river near downtown Augusta. The city also built a canoe and kayak launch, and the Kennebec River Rail Trail connects Augusta to three other river towns.
In addition, the basin-wide Kennebec River Initiative is organizing a cooperative effort to secure the future of the river as a vital ecological, recreational, cultural and economic asset and to foster revitalization efforts in river communities. The Kennebec River Action Plan lists over 40 projects currently underway or planned. The projects focused on Augusta include a boat launch, public trails and redevelopment of the Statler mill site.
Benefits
The Kennebec River has undergone a dramatic revival in the past 10 years. Since removal, fish and wildlife populations have rebounded, and riverbank communities have rediscovered their long forgotten river and its tributaries. The 17-mile stretch of river above the dam went from failing to meet Class C water quality standards, the lowest water quality standard in Maine, to meeting Class B standards in just two months following removal. All native fish species, which had maintained resident populations downstream of the dam, have begun to spread into the newly available habitat upstream of the old dam site.
Restoration of the Kennebec has also revived the City of Augusta and the local economy. The Kennebec now offers numerous recreational opportunities including fishing, canoeing, kayaking and bird-watching. A recent study estimates the total annual economic impact from recreational fishing to be $27.5 million on the freshwater section of the Kennebec between Waterville and Augusta and $37.5 million on the tidal section from Augusta to Merrymeeting Bay. In addition, properties near Edwards Dam that sold for less than comparable properties farther from the dam have increased in value. The penalty for homes close to the former dam site has essentially disappeared.
Restoration efforts have also greatly increased pride in the river, especially among those who witnessed the river prior to the Clean Water Act. In 2008, the Spring Running Festival held its 3rd annual celebration of life on the Kennebec River at Mill Park. Over 900 people attended the festival in 2008, in addition to roughly 50 canoe and kayaks taking part in the coinciding 17-mile Fort to Fort Canoe/Kayak Expedition. In 2007, a weekly farmer’s market began at Mill Park and will soon have an open air pavilion for shelter at the park. Waterfront Wednesdays presents free concerts in the summer.
Adapting to a Changing Climate
Removal of the Edwards Dam and restoration of the Kennebec River remedied historical problems and will allow Augusta to minimize the negative impacts of climate change and maintain a high quality of life as temperatures rise. A changing climate holds many challenges for river communities throughout the Northeast, especially where dams already stress fragile ecosystems. Average temperatures in the region will increase 6-7ºF by the end of the century while average precipitation is expected to rise 10-15 percent. More frequent and severe rain- and snowstorms will increase flooding, erosion and water pollution.
Restoration of the Kennebec will allow the river to absorb climate-related stresses and remain a valuable community asset as temperatures rise. Due to improved water quality following dam removal, the river will be able to assimilate increased runoff brought on by more extreme storms without losing its capacity to support fish and wildlife populations or benefit river communities. Restoring the river’s free-flowing nature will also provide important flexibility to the basin. Free-flowing rivers have more flexibility to efficiently drain runoff and utilize their floodplains to accommodate increases in volume. In short, a healthier river will be more resilient to the impacts of a changing climate. In turn, nearby communities will continue to reap economic, recreational and other benefits even in an uncertain future.
