Mousam River dams’-eye view
To the editor,
Hello readers, Mousam River here.
Well, there certainly has been a lot of activity and discussion about what to do with my portion of the river from the Dane Perkins Dam to the Kesslen Dam. There’s been the Wright-Pierce Dam Report, public input meetings, newspaper articles, a GZA report, letters to the editors, all sorts of meetings, non-binding resolutions, etc. Most people are seeing this issue as either you keep the dams or you remove them.
I thought it was time that I share with you my perspective since any of the proposed alternatives have a direct affect on me. However, so as not to muddy the waters, let me be clear that my desire is that these dams remain in place or as I like to say, ‘Let Me Be.’
These three dams have a significant history of power generation to run various local industries and more recently to generate hydro electricity for nearly 7,000 KLPD customers. I’m what they call green energy with no CO2 impact to the environment. I’ve been happy to do my part and had looked forward to continuing my efforts unaffected, but perhaps with some updated equipment. However, the KLPD trustees have now decided to purchase electricity from NextEra Energy, surrender their hydro generation license, and keep all three dams in place with no modification. Basically, answering my call to ‘Let Me Be.’
Let me share with you my firsthand observations as well as some personal comments.
The draw down done in November 2015 certainly demonstrated what I would look like if the dams were removed. It confirmed the Wright-Pierce study projection of a drastic drop in my water levels, reduced width and the creation of brand new, and very steep, some said, 12- to 13-foot high muddy river banks. Those drought conditions we had during the past summers would certainly make the water levels even worse. Oh my, ‘Let Me Be.’
Nature’s creatures that live in and around the area didn’t even recognize me. While they tried to be kind, I could tell they really did not like my new look. They could now see all those things I had been able to hide with my deep waters. Those new muddy riverbanks, the exposed large rock formations, the fallen trees, the multiple navigational hazards and oh, that odor. It just made us all feel so sad. They were shocked by what they saw happening to their habitat where they had happily lived for decades. There was concern regarding sediment contaminants that were now exposed and not being diluted by my deep waters. Some also spoke about the potential impact to their vernal pool areas as well as the influx of invasive plants that the University of Maine had warned communities about. We were all deeply concerned that if the dams were removed, these concerns would become reality. I roared, ‘Let Me Be.’
I will share additional comments and perspectives in my next letter to the editor. Thanks for listening. Please, ‘Let Me Be.’
The Mousam River
Chauncey Copeland
Kennebunk
Infrastructure bill needs tweaking
To the editor,
While I appreciate Rep. Wayne Parry’s involvement with the Maine Legislature’s Transportation Committee and the knowledge he brings to it, I feel that some numbers in his letter (April 23,2021) need clarity. The infrastructure package has $174 billion allocated to increasing America’s electric vehicle fleet, setting up 500,000 electric refueling stations, and developing an EV fleet taking federal diesel vehicles out of the transportation system.
There is $115 billion in funds devoted to roads and bridges, fixing 20,000 miles of roads, 10 major bridges and 10,000 smaller bridges. There is $85 billion going to modernizing the transit system. There is $80 billion going to Amtrak upgrades and route extensions, airports, seaports and waterways.
To my mind, what we call infrastructure includes not only roads and bridges, but railroads, airports, seaports and waterways and when put together, $265 billion is going to infrastructure. Having said that, I think that the bill needs some tweaking and more should be put to roads and bridges as desired by Rep. Parry.
Funding these fixes is what many find objectionable about the bill. As proposed by President Biden, it will come in the form of a tax increase from 21 percent to 28 percent from the top people and corporations who have made their money off the roads, bridges and other parts of our infrastructure that the American people have paid for in the past. This is only fair and just.
Jake Hawkins
Arundel
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