Free the River! Help the Fish! Vote YES on Article 7 in Camden

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Next week, on Tuesday June 10, voters in Camden have an opportunity to show support for nature and our local rivers by voting YES on Article 7. Article 7 authorizes the Town of Camden to “Free the Megunticook River” and remove the relict Montgomery Dam in Harbor Park. When the dam, a short human-made wall atop the falls, is removed, the Megunticook River and falls will still cascade into Camden Harbor as depicted above. You can review the full sample ballot and language by clicking here.

There are many reasons to vote YES on Article 7, including reduced tax burden, reduced flood risk, and improved public safety – if you would like more detail and analysis on the arguments, please read the Megunticook River Citizen Advisory Committee’s full report recommending removal of the Montgomery Dam. But, from the Waterkeeper’s perspective, nature and the ecological value of free-flowing rivers are foundational justifications for dam removal wherever practical.

Over centuries, humans have used and abused our rivers by damming, polluting and over-fishing. If and where infrastructure exists that is no longer providing any community benefit, other than serving subjective aesthetic opinions, we have an obligation to recreate resilient landscapes that allow nature to thrive. Removal of Montgomery Dam is the first, crucial step to connecting sea-run fish to spawning habitat and undoing centuries of harm to the Megunticook River.

If you are a Camden resident, please help free the river and vote YES on Article 7. If you are not a Camden resident, but know folks who are, please reach out to them and urge them to vote YES on Article 7.

The rivers and fish need your help – THANK YOU!

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Upstream Watch and the Penobscot Bay Waterkeeper boldly advocates for the health of Penobscot Bay Watershed through science, public action and community engagement.