Saving the Mayo Mill Dam
To the Editor;
Recently, there has been a lot of studies, public comment, and decisions being made on the future of the aging Mayo Mill Dam in Dover-Foxcroft. Due to this, a group of concerned citizens have stepped up and formed a working group called Friends of the Mayo Mill Dam.
This bi-partisan, organized, and mission-driven effort was created in response to the recent decision by the Dover-Foxcroft Board of Selectmen to accept the recommendations of the dam steering committee to remove the Mayo Mill Dam and subsequently create a park along the downtown riverfront. There is no politics here, just one mission, save the dam!
The Mayo Mill Dam is the biggest symbol of our town and one worth fighting for so that future generations can enjoy what benefits the dam provides us! Those benefits include higher water levels in non-drought years on the Piscataquis River which allows recreational opportunities such as fishing, kayaking, wildlife watching and even taking aerial tours via a seaplane landing area. The river levels as they are now provide a habitat for wildlife including birds, turtles, amphibians, fish and even a food source for native bald eagles. Large animals also benefit from the river as a source of drinking water, relief from summer heat, insects and also a place for bears to find fish as part of their natural diet. Riverfront property owners, locals and tourists are able to experience picturesque views of the dam and the river. The most often overlooked benefit of the dam is that it provides a higher water table for the wells of riverfront property owners in drought years.
The dam is also part of our town’s rich history of post-Civil War economic growth providing flood control, a water source for local residents, industry and downtown businesses and even power generation for the Mayo Mill in the mid 20th century! Merely focusing on the history and symbolism of the dam will not save it. Only economically viable solutions with secure funding sources presented to the board in a timely fashion, fully documented with detailed guidelines and answers to the many questions of concern, will save the dam. There is an upcoming townwide referendum on the dam at the June municipal election. We must have these solutions ready before the June municipal election in the event that the voters do not approve of accepting grant money to remove the Mayo Mill Dam and the creation of a riverfront park thereafter. There are many unanswered questions and work that needs to be done. We need your help!
We invite all interested persons, businesses, organizations, and any other parties in our town and beyond to get involved in this team effort to save the Mayo Mill Dam. We need people to help us with outreach and awareness, research, FOAA requests, grant searches, write articles, do interviews, and get involved in upcoming meetings of our group and that of town committees and boards. If you wish to follow our progress or join our efforts, email us at friendsofdoverfoxcroft@gmail.com and check us out on our Friends of the Mayo Mill Dam Facebook group.
We need all hands on deck in this effort. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sean Hadley & Kathi Lewis
co-founders
Friends of the Mayo Mill Dam
Dover-Foxcroft