Continued progress on the grade control structure that holds back water in the impoundment.
By Ellie Mason, Habitat Restoration Project Manager
With a few weeks of in-water work remaining, exciting progress continues on the Narraguagus River in Cherryfield!
Sargent Corporation is nearing completion of the new step pools and water-control structure, carefully placing large boulders throughout the project area. These features are designed to guide river flow through the new fishway under a range of water conditions while creating a more natural river channel for migrating fish.
This week also marked another major milestone as crews poured the concrete foundations for the new ice piers and began constructing the timber pier structures above them.
Looking upstream at the step pools. Muddy water is a temporary result of washing in fine sediment to prevent gaps between rocks as a structural stabilizing technique.
In the coming week, a small amount of water will be carefully released through the step-pool channel for the first time. This controlled test will allow the project team to see how the new channel performs at lower flows and make any final adjustments before the full river is returned to the project area.
Crews will also begin removing sandbags at the downstream end of the site and connecting the newly constructed channel with the existing riverbed. The new ice piers are also expected to be completed next week.