Representatives from the 5 Town Dam Committee met at the Bucksport Town Office on Wednesday, September 25th to continue discussions on the status and impacts of the ongoing efforts of Bucksport Mill LLC/AIM to relinquish ownership of the  Silver Lake, Alamoosook, and Toddy dams. 

The group recapped a meeting the previous week with business and environmental organizations enlisted to assist in developing a robust, fact-based analysis of the impacts of removing/releasing water from the dams.  It was a productive meeting that will lead to additional conversations. The Committee is focusing on collecting economic, recreational, and environmental data to help shape the path moving forward. 

On 9/26/24, the Orland voters approved a moratorium on any change in dam ownership/operation status to give the Town 180 days to develop an ordinance similar to the one just enacted by Bucksport. That ordinance will regulate dam transfer, abandonment, or removal of any dam within Orland. The ordinance under development does not replace the State statute but complements that process by focusing on safety and economic concerns not addressed in the State’s environmentally focused statute. 

The  Committee will continue to meet to ensure that the five communities have a coordinated response to Bucksport Mill, LLC/AIM’s efforts to relinquish ownership of the dams.