Maine Rivers

Our mission is to protect, restore, and enhance the ecological health of Maine's river systems

Our mission is to protect, restore and enhance the ecological health of Maine’s river systems.

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Royal River Restoration

Photosimulation of the Royal River with the Bridge Street Dam removed.
Photosimulation of the Royal River with the Bridge Street Dam removed.
Royal River Restoration Project summer 2012

The Royal River flows nearly 26 miles from its source in Sabbathday Lake in New Gloucester to its mouth in Casco Bay in Yarmouth.  The watershed includes approximately 141 square miles of land in the towns of Auburn, Durham, Gray, New Gloucester, Pownal, North Yarmouth and Yarmouth.  The Town of Yarmouth owns two dams, the Bridge Street Dam and the East Elm Street Dam. These are the lower-most dams in the watershed.  Together they block access to over 100 miles of mainstem and tributary habitat for migratory fish.  As part of the Royal River Restoration Project and following recommendations of the 2008 Royal River Corridor Master Plan, the Town of Yarmouth is evaluating options for fisheries and habitat restoration.  

The 2008 Royal River Corridor Master Plan recommended performing a comprehensive study of the advantages and disadvantages of removing dams and recommended that improvements to fish passage be made throughout the river corridor:

“In terms of fish passage, the Lower Falls do not present a barrier to most fish species. Although the Upper Falls may themselves be a barrier, there is a side channel to the east of those falls that allows fish passage around the falls. In contrast, the two dams present a complete barrier to all fish passage. A concrete Denil fish passage exists at each dam, but these structures are flawed and do not appear to be providing adequate function.”

-Royal River Corridor Master Plan, 2008,p. 8.

Royal River Bridge St
Bridge St Dam, Yarmouth

Royal River Dams

Bridge Street Dam

Structure:  The Bridge Street Dam is made of reinforced concrete and is approximately 275 feet in length and 10 feet high. The hydropower turbines are located in the basement of the Sparhawk Mill, a penstock moves water from the Dam to the Sparhawk Mill where some is used for the hydropower operations.

Purpose:  A hydroelectric generating facility at Sparhawk Mill uses water from Bridge Street Dam to produce small amounts of hydropower foruse by tenants of the Sparhawk Mill with limited amount sent to the power grid. The Town receives minimal if any revenue from the hydropower operation.

Owner:  The Town of Yarmouth acquired the dam, right-of-way over adjoining property and flowage right in 1973.  Flowage rights are limited to maintaining or lowering the existing water level.  

Fish passage:  Fish passage facilities were not part of the original dam configuration but were added in 1974.  The Maine Department of Marine Resources maintains a lease from the Town to operate the fishway but the fishway has not been maintained and does not function.  Funding from the Department of Marine Resources for repair or maintenance is severely limited.

Licensing:  The hydropower operation holds an exemption from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) because it produces very little power. The FERC license is in the process of being surrendered.

East Elm Street Dam

Structure:  The East Elm Street Dam is made of stone and is approximately 250 feet in length and is 12 feet high.  It is an aging structure with visible evidence of deterioration.

Purpose:  The East Elm Street Dam produces no power and there are no remaining industries associated with it.  A mill was originally built in the vicinity of the dam in 1759 to power an iron refinery.

Owner:  The Town of Yarmouth acquired the dam and flowage rights in 1971.

Fish passage:  The Maine Department of Marine Resources maintains a lease from the Town to operate the fishway but the fishway languished for years without being maintained.  It is not clear if the fishway has ever performed well.  Funding from the Department of Marine Resources for repair or maintenance is severely limited.

Royal River Fishways Fact Sheet

Download the Royal River Fishways Fact Sheet

 

Links

Royal River Restoration Project: Phase II Analysis and Reporting, 2013

Executive Summary of Phase II Analysis and Reporting, PDF

Phase II Analysis and Reporting, without appendixes, PDF

Phase II Analysis and Reporting with appendixes, PDF

Summary of Recreational Changes Associated with Dam Removal and River Restoration 2013

Royal River Recreational Summary, PDF

Map of Royal River Fish Passage, 2013

Royal River Dams Map, PDF

Royal River Corridor Master Plan, 2008

Royal River Corridor Master Plan, PDF

Fisheries & Aquatic Habitat Restoration Feasibility Study, 2010

Fisheries & Aquatic Habitat Restoration Feasibility Study, PDF

Link to Town of Yarmouth website for Appendices to 2010 Report

Royal River Water Quality Monitoring Report, 1993-1999

Anadromous Fish Restoration in the Royal River, 1981

Royal River Drainage Fish Management, 1958

Fish Species

Historical and Present Royal River Fish Species, PDF

Photo Simulations of Dam Removal

Photo Simulations of Dam Removal Process, PDF

~In the News~

Portland Press Herald

Yarmouth still seeking consensus on removal of two dams

Tri-Town Weekly

Pownal Dam Gets Heave H0, 7/24/13

Portland Press Herald

Dam’s removal will help restore river, 4/14/13

Royal River restoration: a three day cooperative effort has begun to remove 25 granite blocks that once formed a dam on the Yarmouth waterway.

Portland Press Herald Article and Video, 8/1/12

Royal River restoration in Yarmouth begins with small ‘stepping stone‘

Forecaster Article, 8/1/12

Yarmouth dams a Royal (River) attraction for Thai officials

Forecaster Article 3/20/12

Blueprint for healthy Royal River calls for removing Yarmouth dams

Maine Voices article by Landis Hudson, 2/20/12

Yarmouth Councilors Move Toward Removal of Royal River Dams

Forecaster Article, 12/6/11

Yarmouth Begins Dam Discussions

Forecaster Article, 10/26/11

Yarmouth Dam Opened for Inspection

Bangor Daily News Article, 8/16/11

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Watersheds

Maine’s Watershed Regions: Read More

Legislation

State of Maine Legislation: Read More

River Life

30,000 miles of rivers and streams course through the glaciated landscape of Maine. Read More

Advocating for Free Flowing Rivers

Hundreds of years ago, before the first European settlers came to Maine, the region looked very different. Read more

Restoring Native Fish to Our Rivers

We work to restore native fish populations to rivers throughout Maine. Read more

Maine River Restoration Successes

We celebrate river restoration achievements across the state. Read More

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Maine Rivers

Contact Us

P.O. Box 782
Yarmouth, ME 04096
Phone: 207-847-9277

Email: contact@mainerivers.org

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