At the same time, the city is looking into extending its Riverwalk, which now runs along the southern bank of the Presumpscot, to the other side of the river. Removal of the dam opened about seven miles of the lower Presumpscot River and its tributary streams for passage of migratory fish, including shad, blueback herring, alewife, rainbow smelt, striped bass, and Atlantic salmon. It includes the Presumpscot Falls, which used to be the site of the former Smelt Hill Dam (built 1731). The river is still being fought over. Presumpscot River from Falmouth to Westbrook. What’s changed at the Cumberland Mills Dam? Ramps with floating docks were installed on the river in the spring of 2013 and quickly put to use by fishermen. Its name originates from the local Native American word of the Abenaki tribe meaning "many falls" or "many rough places" because prior to dam construction there were at least twelve falls. Since the dam's removal in 2002, the annual run of alewives here has increased to about 70,000. It was a busy river all the way back to the Abanakis. The river drops an impressive 270 feet through a series of falls, many of which lay submerged behind numerous dams. The Presumpscot River Preserve lies on either side of the former dam site and next to Presumpscot Falls—now flowing freely for the first time since the dam was built. The Presumpscot River in southern Maine is only 25.8 miles long, but in that short distance it drops an impressive two hundred and seventy feet. Best trails in Presumpscot River Preserve, Maine 307 Reviews Explore the most popular trails in Presumpscot River Preserve with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. It flows for about 25 winding miles through the towns of Standish, Windham, Gorham, Westbrook, Falmouth, and Portland before emptying out in Casco Bay. The Smelt Hill Dam, erected in 1731, was removed in November 2002. Warren, a subsidiary of South African Pulp and Paper (SAPPI). The company treated dam removal as a nonstarter in its years-long court battle with conservation groups over fish passage, said Michael Shaughnessy, president of the Friends of the Presumpscot River. We have canceled the Flash Flood Watch for the Presumpscot River in Cumberland County, ME. The Eel Weir Dam was first built at the outlet of the lake around 1827 and dam was later raised to its present height in 1884. Its woodsy 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of trails had decent views up and down the river. Sebago Lake’s water level is controlled by the Eel Weir Dam at the outlet of the lake and the headwaters of the Presumpscot River. These dams are the Eel Weir Dam, North Gorham Dam, Dundee Dam, Gambo Dam, Little Falls Dam, Mallison Dam, Sacarappa Dam, and Cumberland Mills Dam. In the 2007 preliminary agreement, Sappi had agreed by 2011 to remove Cumberland Mills Dam, a non-power water control structure, the farthest dam downstream on the Presumpscot near Westbrook. This 60-acre (24.3 ha) nature preserve spanned both sides of the historic Presumpscot River to the river’s edge. Saccarappa Dams 1 and 2, Presumpscot River, Maine This project included the removal of two separate adjacent dams on the Presumpscot River, both originally built in 1911 for hydroelectric power— the Saccarappa Dam 1 (12-foot tall by 239-foot long) and the Saccarappa Dam 2 … Fly fishers are cetainly fishing later in … The removal of the dam structures themselves will not be the end of the work. Be sure to bring a camera! The Saccarappa Hydroelectric Project, the second dam on southern Maine’s Presumpscot River, is expected to be removed as early as 2020, according to an agreement filed today by project operator S.D. Then there are the amenities that are already in place. I heard from anglers using flies discussed in my books that they were working well including the Cosohammer streamer, brook trout egg patterns, and bright-bead nymphs. Share this: Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Now at the take out at Lincoln Street in Westbrook ME. The river drops an impressive 270 feet between Sebago Lake and the ocean through a … Removal of the head-of-tide dam at Smelt Hill has opened seven miles of the Lower River, providing habitat for an estimated 6,000 to 24,000 American shad, 78,000 blueback herring, 150,000 to 200,000 alewive and perhaps 25 to 100 Atlantic salmon. Note: In the summer of 2019, the Saccarappa Dam in Westbrook was removed, impacting water levels upstream, possibly as far up as Mallison Falls Dam. The Presumpscot River represents the outlet of Sebago Lake. An impressive 270 feet through a series of slow moving pools and ponds warm. 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