Under the preliminary agreement, Sappi will remove all components of the Cumberland Mills dam and install fish lifts at Saccarappa dam as part of an initiative to 'trigger' fish passage at three other dams on the river - Mallison Falls, Little Falls and Gambo.
Removal works at Cumberland Mills is to be completed and the area renovated by May 2011. The fish lifts at Saccarappa dam are to be installed in nine years. Further works will take place at dams in the upper watershed as fish return to the river.
The aim of the settlement is to 'jump-start' the restoration of native sea-run species throughout the upper watershed, and the scheme also involves trapping and trucking fish.
Sappi agreed the settlement with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the state's Department of Marine Resources and also the local group Friends of Prescumpscot River and national pressure group American Rivers. It is hoped that the final settlement between the parties will be reached before the end of 2007.
At present the company provides minimum flows for fisheries at four dams - Eel Weir, Dundee, Gambo and Mallison Falls.
Separately, in late June, the US House of Representatives passed a funding bill for river restoration, which will enable removal of 'obsolete, dangerous dams' and other projects, according to American Rivers. The dam removal element is under the 'Open Rivers Initiative', which is funded under the bill at US$6M.
