By Ellie Mason, Habitat Restoration Project Manager
This week marked another major milestone as demolition of the Ice Control Dam moved into full swing!
On Thursday, crews officially breached the dam to allow for lower water levels within the project area, allowing construction to safely move into the next phase. Meanwhile, the Narraguagus River continues to flow through the temporary bypass channel, allowing fish passage and river flow throughout construction. Sargent Construction has begun removing the dam’s abutments, carefully separating wood from rock so materials can be properly recycled and disposed of. As the site dries out, crews will continue installing sandbags to isolate the work area, while biologists from the Maine Department of Marine Resources assist with relocating any fish found within the construction zone.
Looking ahead, demolition of the dam and ice piers will continue, along with the arrival of a large crane to begin pile driving for the new ice pier foundations. While overall construction noise should remain similar, pile driving may be noticeably louder for a period of time.
