Maine Water Removes Frost Gully Dam in Freeport

FREEPORT, Maine — Frost Gully Brook in Freeport is running free for this first-time in more than 100 years thanks, in-part, to Maine Water Company’s commitment to preserving and protecting the environment. The company partnered with Trout Unlimited and several other federal, state and local agencies and organizations to remove the dam it owned on the brook that had been used years ago for water supply purposes. Two other dams on the brook were also removed.

Maine Water President Mark Vannoy stated, “We are pleased to be a part of this initiative to help return Frost Gully Brook to its natural state. Protecting and preserving the environment is important to Maine Water and our employees. We are excited that our actions will help to sustain this precious water resource in its natural state for current and future generations to enjoy.”

According to Trout Unlimited, Maine is fortunate to have many cold-water streams that reach its bays. Many of these streams hold our state fish, the Brook Trout, typically a freshwater fish.  Some of these trout, called “salters,” live their lives quite uniquely, in both freshwater and saltwater environments.  The dams heated the water they stored to dangerous levels, depleting it of the dissolved oxygen salters and other critters need to thrive.

“Having Frost Gully Brook free of its dams certainly will allow these salters to run its entire length, but now cold water can run from its headwaters to the bay,” says Jeff Bush president of the Merrymeeting Bay chapter of Trout Unlimited. Bush added, “This is a boost to its entire ecosystem and food web.  We have deep appreciation for Maine Water, Freeport Conservation Trust, stream restoration experts, and the many organizations who coordinated the effort to remove these dams.”

“It would not have been possible to remove three dams in 5 days with an outstanding partnership,” says Carrie Kinnie, executive director of the Freeport Conservation Trust. Kinne notes, “Over the past 7 years the Freeport Conservation Trust and its partners were driven by a desire to restore Frost Gully Brook to its natural state and help preserve the environment that is treasured by all Mainers.”

The Frost Gully Dam project is just one of many environmental initiatives that Maine Water has been engaged in across the state. The company has helped to preserve more the 1,200 acres of open space land at Ragged Mountain in midcoast Maine for the Round the Mountain Trail in partnership with the Coastal Mountains Land Trust. Maine Water is also working to set aside 250 acres of protected open space land in Biddeford near the company’s recently completed drinking water treatment facility, the Saco River Drinking Water Resource Center. A solar array which will offset 100% of the facilities energy usage is also planned near the Resource Center.

For more information on Maine Water’s environmental initiatives please see our most recent Corporate Sustainability Report available at mainewater.com.

About Maine Water
The Maine Water Company is a public water utility that owns 12 public water systems engaged in the collection, treatment and distribution of drinking water for homes, businesses and fire protection service. The Maine Water Company serves approximately 85,000 people in 21 communities across Maine.