Dike opens floodgates to range of issues; Ecosystem concerns raised

Replacing what is currently a failing dike in Machias with a nearly duplicate span drew considerable support from concerned residents during a meeting on November 3 to discuss how to deal with the 140‑year‑old structure. And that was the point of the meeting – to get ideas and build consensus on how to deal with the dike that transports Route 1 traffic over the Middle River. It's the latest move in a nearly two-decade-long struggle to get the dike replaced.

Some of the 130 people attending the meeting expressed frustration with the length of time the issue has been under debate. "For years now the people of Machias and surrounding towns have been speaking with one voice," said Rep. Will Tuell of East Machias. "We want the [dike and] clappers restored as they have been for generations. Time and again the public has shown strong support for this approach."

But others questioned whether a precise replacement of the dike would be the best solution for the aquatic ecosystem surrounding the dike. Those included Dwayne Shaw, executive director of the Downeast Salmon Federation, who said a replication of the current dike wouldn't allow fish and saltwater to naturally pass through to the inland side of the roadway.

"This is not just about the place and salmon. It's about all ocean‑running fish," Shaw said. "These are the waters of the United States, and these fish belong to everyone."

The meeting was led by members of the Upper Machias Bay Master Plan (UMBMP) Committee, the group that undertook the question of bridge replacement in January. Prior to that the Maine Department of Transportation (DOT) had been guiding the process but stepped back to see if residents could reach consensus on a solution.

"It's important we get this done," said Tora Johnson, co‑director of the Sustainable Prosperity Initiative for the Sunrise County Economic Council, who is serving as director for the UMBMP. "The dike could collapse at any moment. Right now, the roadway is collapsing into the gates."

When it was initially formed, the UMBMP was charged with not only gathering consensus on the dike but also addressing other areas of concern such as downtown flooding, water quality and natural resources. Its next public meeting will be on Wednesday, December 10, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Pellon Center, 90 Main St., when flooding in downtown Machias will be discussed.

The meeting began with Ben Edwards, vice chair of both the UMBMP and the select board in Machias, presenting five alternative scenarios to replace the dike. He admitted there was "no perfect solution, but doing nothing is not an option either."

The alternatives presented by the UMBMP ranged from replacing the dike as is, with clappers -- gated culverts -- that prevent saltwater from making its way into the freshwater side of the dike, to building a 120‑foot bridge that would span the river but allow the salty ocean and freshwater to mix freely.

Between the two vastly different alternatives were others that included culverts to allow some saltwater intrusion, effectively giving entry for fish such as salmon into the other side of the dike. Those scenarios could also transform parts of what is currently freshwater marsh and fields into a saltwater marsh during floods.

The alternatives were originally crafted by Maine DOT and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and resulted, in part, from the different missions of the organizations and the laws that govern them. DOT's goal is to maintain a safe traffic pattern over the dike, while NOAA is concerned with fisheries and wildlife restoration as well as meeting the requirements of the Clean Water Act.

"We are in a position now where we are pausing our own process to let the community complete this," said Ian Gorecki, community, planning and scoping manager with DOT. "Our leadership has made a commitment to wait and see what the community says." Ultimately, however, DOT and NOAA will have the final say over what transpires with the dike.

When compared, the alternatives allow for the potential of different amounts of flooding during extremely high tides. Building a 120‑foot bridge that allowed water to flow freely under its span would allow for the greatest chance of flooding, bringing potential high waters very close to the now‑closed Machias landfill off Broadway.

A diverse group of fishermen, clammers and residents voiced their opposition to any alternative that would change the ecosystem, potentially eliminating habitats they use to make a living or flooding private property.

"It's not just a one‑town issue," said Jacob Maker, a clammer from Whiting. "It just doesn't make sense to not go back to what we had before."

David Cale, a clammer from Machiasport and the current Bucks Harbor harbormaster, as well as others fear that any alternative could jeopardize their livelihoods. "If sediment escaped from the other side of the dike it could ruin the [clam] flats. Why change it?"

Others, such as Wayde Carter of Marshfield, were concerned that letting saltwater flow more freely below the dike would upset a freshwater ecosystem that's been functioning for decades. "We know it's a thriving ecosystem. Why would we transition to something we don't know?"

Anson Bergonzi, a carpenter from East Machias, agreed. "To try to restore [the land] to what it was 140 years ago doesn't make sense. On top of that, the dike has been a gathering place for decades."

Whatever scenario is ultimately chosen, it will likely be years before a replacement is in place, as numerous more‑extensive environmental impact studies will have to first be performed. Until then, the UMBMP's Johnson says a temporary bridge will replace the current system sometime this winter and be capable of servicing the area for several years.

Even if the alternative that envisions a replication of the current dike is eventually chosen, Johnson says the finished product probably won't resemble what's there right now and will most assuredly be higher. She says UMBMP will continue its monthly meetings on dike replacement, and she hopes it will reach a consensus on a particular scenario early next year.

Hannah Wright, chair of the UMBMP and a Middle River landowner, said she realizes the process to achieve public consensus on the issue is contentious. "It's hard when you hear some talk about your livelihood or you have your home reduced to a spot on a map. But it's important we all speak up as a community. Our vision is stronger together."