Whiting dam repair pegged at possibly $1.3 million

The first engineering study in a series estimates that the cost to repair the Whiting Mill Pond dam could be as much as $1.3 million, while demolition of the dam might cost only $150,000. Along with repair costs, the construction of a fishway could cost an additional million dollars, according to the Downeast Salmon Federation (DSF), which owns the property and is planning to restore the fisheries in the Orange River. Other planned engineering studies will look at fish passage alternatives and a water supply alternative analysis for fire suppression.
At a November meeting hosted by representatives of the salmon federation and Maine Coast Heritage Trust to explain their plans for fish passage and options for the Mill Pond, residents of Whiting, Edmunds and Trescott expressed their concerns about possible removal of the dam, in part because the volume of water in the Mill Pond allows for reduced property insurance rates for those within five miles of the town's fire station. Then in early December residents of Whiting approved having the selectmen adopt a new water-level ordinance to protect the levels in the pond.
The DSF will hold another public meeting on Thursday, February 2, at 6 p.m. at the Whiting Community Building to explain the findings from the first engineering study and to answer questions.
The study by Wright Pierce found the dam to be unsafe because of the lack of original construction drawings and stability calculations, the uncertainty of the spillway being able to pass the design flood and a number of deficiencies, including significant spalling and cracks in the concrete, leakage and erosion at the bottom of the dam. The cost to repair the dam is estimated to range between $690,000 and $1,375,000. Demolition is estimated to cost between $150,000 and $300,000, while the cost to replace the dam is estimated to range between $900,000 and $1,200,000.
Dwayne Shaw, executive director of the DSF, says the studies will "help the town government make decisions. We're working together with the town to guide the planning in moving forward with a state-of-the-art fish passage" and also a fire suppression system. The remaining engineering studies are expected to be completed in March.
Shaw says that there is not a timeline on when a decision will be made about the fate of the dam. "We're trying to make sure we're not missing any information," he says. "We need to understand what makes the most sense from a cost-benefit analysis," while also considering the scenic, historic and fisheries values. He notes that the town has offered to contribute to the cost of dam maintenance and fish passage construction. "But we had no engineering studies to work from," Shaw notes.
He expects that fish passage up the Orange River will be possible within the next few years, and the DSF is looking at stocking alewives, blueback herring and possibly shad in the river.
Shaw says representatives of the salmon federation have been trying to involve area residents in the process. They have been attending Whiting selectmen's meetings for several months, have been meeting with the fire chief and have held a public meeting for residents and will be holding more. "We want to examine this in partnership with the town. We want to work with the town to look at this information to figure out which option we choose."
Concerning the water-level ordinance that residents approved having the selectmen adopt, Shaw says, "The town has to decide if the ordinance makes sense in this situation as they examine the data we're providing."
The DSF also is looking at the costs for repairing the house on the property, with Shaw noting, "It's an important house in the center of town."