Hollis Select Board Transparency Archive

003601dcf1cb1adf2900509d7b00

FW: Bar Mills Decommissioning meeting rescheduled

From

• Mark Woodruff <[email protected]>

To

• Lars Hammer - MDMR <[email protected]>
• Paye, Laura <[email protected]>
• Jim Pellerin - IFW <[email protected]>
• Andy Fisk (American Rivers) <[email protected]>
• Casey Clark - DMR <[email protected]>
• Briggs, Claire <[email protected]>
• Saco River Corridor Commission <[email protected]>
• Cindy Fanning <[email protected]>
• Dan Yarumian <[email protected]>
• David Field <[email protected]>
• Heath Knight <[email protected]>
• Jamie Marshall <[email protected]>
• jim boutin <[email protected]>
• Mark Blier <[email protected]>
• Paul Mattor <[email protected]>
• Renee Lewis <[email protected]>
• Terry Walters <[email protected]>

Date

Mon, Jun 1, 2026 · 9:32 a.m. ET

• 2026 0408_Improvements Plan_BHDC.pdfNot posted

  The original PDF is not in this public copy. The words copied from it are below.

  Read from the file

  Restoration, Public Access, and Recreation Improvements Plan for the Bar Mills Project Area Prepared for Brookfield White Pine Hydro, LLC (BWPH) by the Bar Mills Decommissioning Committee April 2026 Overview The communities of Buxton and Hollis have shaped their use of the Saco River around the presence of the Bar Mills Hydroelectric Project (Project), and its decommissioning will bring substantial and lasting change to river levels, riverbanks, and adjacent private and public lands. This Improvements Plan centers on practical solutions to address those changes, on and near the Saco River, by prioritizing the removal of project structures, the restoration of riparian areas, and maintaining public access for recreational opportunities that residents and visitors value. Its attention to public safety and river access that can be realistically maintained over time is intended to complement the Decommissioning Plan and support informed decision-making that reflects the needs and capacities of Buxton and Hollis. Both towns recognize that further opportunities to partner with Brookfield White Pine Hydro (BWPH) may improve the outcomes for the Rogers Fibre Mill site, pedestrian access and hand-carry boat launches, and the Bar Mills powerhouse. Relevant Documents and Drawings  Base Flow, LLC. 2026. Results of Hydraulic Modeling. Pending.  Brookfield White Pine Hydro, LLC. 2026. Final Study Report Bar Mills Hydroelectric Project. Pending.  Brookfield White Pine Hydro, LLC. 2026. Decommissioning Plan for the Bar Mills Hydroelectric Project. Pending.  Brookfield White Pine Hydro, LLC. Land survey of property in the vicinity of Bar Mills Dam owned by BWPH. Pending.  FERC. 2008. Order Issuing New License.  FERC. 2009. License Exhibits F and G Drawings. Pending.  Kleinschmidt. 2025. Meeting Notes - Potential Recreation Access Location, Hollis.  U.S. EPA. 2000. After Action Report for the Rogers Fibre Mill Removal Site, Bar Mills, Maine, June 1998 through October 1999.

  Improvements Plan for the Bar Mills Project Area April 2026 Page 2 of 5 Sites to be Improved Bar Mills Dam  BWPH has committed to full removal of the concrete dam and timber crib dam to bedrock. River restoration will focus on re-establishing migratory fish passage and safety for people recreating in the Saco River.  Any modifications undertaken to improve upstream fish passage should consider the safety of anglers, canoeists, and kayakers. Remains of Rogers Fibre Mill The results from hydraulic modeling, structural analysis, and observations of actual site conditions will be used to determine the preferred outcomes for the Rogers Fibre Mill foundation including but not limited to full or partial demolition, re-grading, and riverbank stabilization. The Decommissioning Committee envisions the Mill Site to be fully reclaimed as an important new public access site, whose restoration will remove the remaining hazards and unnecessary structures and return the area to a healthy riparian habitat that supports river health and will be a vantage point of the Saco River. Mill Restoration and Final Grading  Remove the chain-link fence.  Eliminate the public safety hazard of the open interior of the mill foundation.  Create an accessible area for viewing the Saco River and picnicking.  Install a means of pedestrian access to the Saco River from the concrete slab elevation adjacent to Depot Street.  Limit tree removal in the area on the downstream side of the foundation.  Conduct environmental sampling in areas disturbed by site work including but not limited to the drainage channel created by the 12-inch pipe.  Restore a healthy riparian buffer and use riverbank stabilization strategies, as needed, that must consider bioengineered solutions. Potential use of concrete debris from the dam on town-owned property is contingent on reaching a mutually agreed solution for the mill foundation. Any riprap areas, if needed for stabilization, should be designed to support riparian vegetation. Surplus concrete debris must be disposed of off-site. Fire Suppression – Dry Hydrant Replacement The Decommissioning Committee is including the replacement of the dry-hydrants because the towns are awaiting BWPH’s proposal to install an underground water storage tank on the town-owned Rogers Fibre Mill property.

  Improvements Plan for the Bar Mills Project Area April 2026 Page 3 of 5  BWPH and its contractor, in consultation with the fire chiefs from Buxton and Hollis, will determine the optimum location for the underground water storage tank that will replace the dry hydrants on Canal Road, Hollis and Depot Street, Buxton.  BWPH or its contractor will install the underground water storage tank, associated piping, and hook-up on the town owned Rogers Fibre Mill property adjacent to Depot Street. Pedestrian Access and Hand-carry Boat Launches Because the license surrender will end the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) authority of the Bar Mills Hydroelectric Project, the towns are awaiting BWPH’s commitments to implement the following projects. Maintaining public access is a priority that can be achieved through public rights-of-way or transfers of fee ownership from BWPH to the Town of Hollis. The Decommissioning Committee and BWPH acknowledge that further discussions with the Town of Hollis are necessary for the first three locations. 1. Parking Area and Existing Boat Launch, Bar Mills Road, Hollis  BWPH will maintain the existing parking area and boat launch for public access to the Saco River.  Contingent on approval from the Maine Department of Transportation install a crosswalk for pedestrians crossing Bar Mills Road (Route 4A) from the parking area to Usher Island or Canal Road with signage and pedestrian actuated light. 2. Usher Island and 2-Vehicle Parking Area, Hollis  BWPH will maintain the existing 2-vehicle parking area, gate, fencing, and trails. 3. Existing Hand-Carry Boat Launch (downstream side of powerhouse) – Canal Road, Hollis  BWPH will maintain the existing signage, the public access along Canal Road, the two-vehicle parking area, the pathway, and concrete stairway for the existing hand- carry boat launch. 4. New Hand-Carry Boat Launch – 34 Town Farm Road, Hollis (behind the Hollis Town Office)  The new hand-carry boat launch on town-owned land is intended to provide public access to the flatwater section between the West Buxton Hydroelectric Project downstream approximately to the remains of the railroad bridge.  Improvements will include gated access, road improvements, parking area(s), tree clearing for day use, and a ramp for launching a canoe or kayak.  The results from hydraulic modeling will be used to determine the need for riverbank stabilization.

  Improvements Plan for the Bar Mills Project Area April 2026 Page 4 of 5 5. Canoe and Kayak Portage – River Road, West Buxton Hydroelectric Project (P-2531), Buxton  Modify the granite steps to improve pedestrian access and stabilize the riverbank if necessitated by the post-removal river level. Long-Term Maintenance BWPH commented in its Final Study Plan Appendix A that it is required by FERC to develop a post-surrender operations and maintenance plan as part of the license surrender application. Except for the new hand carry boat launch behind the Hollis Town Office, BWPH’s maintenance obligations will continue with all the public access locations discussed in this section. Future property transfers would change these obligations. Bar Mills Powerhouse The Decommissioning Committee supports the full removal of the Bar Mills Powerhouse and its spillway which will remove the public safety hazards and unnecessary structures to support river health and improve the scenic character of the Saco River. In contrast, BWPH is proposing to keep the powerhouse and has made the following commitments:  Remove the crane, crane house, and associated transmission tower.  Plant a vegetative screen around the powerhouse.  Install security cameras.  Maintain and monitor the powerhouse and existing security fencing.  Monitor the shoreline of the canal for invasive botanical infestations while they are still relatively easy to treat and manage. The Decommissioning Committee is open to further discussions to reach a mutually acceptable outcome for the powerhouse. Planning Considerations This Improvement Plan provides a conceptual planning framework to support discussions about the removal of project structures, the restoration of riparian areas, and maintaining public access for recreational opportunities related to the decommissioning of the Bar Mills Hydroelectric Project. The following considerations apply: Conceptual Description The improvements, access features, and shoreline stabilization described in the plan are subject to change once the Bar Mills Decommissioning Plan is made available by BWPH. Final designs, locations, dimensions, construction methods, and materials will be determined through subsequent engineering, permitting, and design phases.

  Improvements Plan for the Bar Mills Project Area April 2026 Page 5 of 5 Data and Modeling Assumptions Actual site conditions following dam removal may differ from modeled or anticipated conditions, which could require revisions to the proposed improvements or riverbank stabilization measures. Environmental and Site Constraints Unforeseen environmental conditions, including subsurface conditions, contaminated materials, river response following dam removal, or changes in habitat conditions, may limit or alter the feasibility of specific improvements. Property Ownership and Access The future use of existing or proposed improvements is contingent upon BWPH providing public rights-of-way after FERC’s jurisdiction ends. Decisions regarding potential transfers of land or recreation facilities to the towns will require deed information for specific parcels. Public Safety and Use Final designs and signage will be necessary to address site-specific safety considerations. Regulatory Approvals All proposed actions are subject to applicable federal, state, and local regulatory approvals, including but not limited to FERC requirements, Maine Department of Environmental Protection Water Quality Certification, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, the Saco River Corridor Commission, the Towns of Buxton and Hollis, and coordination with landowners. The improvements at each site may be modified based on regulatory review.