The Merrimack Village Dam has been a fixture in the town for a century.
But its owner no longer has any use for it.
Maintenance is expensive.
And biologists say the dam prevents fish from spawning.
Now the dam's owners and local officials are considering its removal.
New Hampshire Public Radio correspondent Carolyn D'Aquila reports.
THE MERRIMACK VILLAGE DAM IS A THROWBACK TO MERRIMACK?S EARLY DAYS AS A MILL TOWN.
IT?S SET OFF THE ROAD, MAKING IT HARD TO SEE IMMEDIATELY.
BUT MERRIMACK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR JAY MINKARAH SAYS THAT DOESN?T LESSEN PEOPLE?S ATTACHMENT TO THE DAM.
MINKARAH TAPE "FOR PEOPLE WITH A CONNECTION TO THE TOWN...IT'S IMPORTANT"
PENNICHUCK WATER WORKS BOUGHT THE WATER RIGHTS TO THE SOUHEGAN RIVER AND THE MERRIMACK VILLAGE DAM ABOUT 40 YEARS AGO.
BUT THE RIVER DIDN?T TURN OUT TO BE A VIABLE WATER SUPPLY FOR THE COMPANY.
SO PENNICHUCK MAINTAINED DAM EVEN THOUGH IT DOESN?T SERVE A BUSINESS PURPOSE.
BUT THE DAM IS STARTING TO SHOW ITS AGE AND PENNICHUCK IS CONSIDERING REMOVING IT.
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT STEVE DENSBERGER SAYS THE COMPANY HASN?T MADE ANY DECISIONS YET.
DENSBERGER TAPE "WE'RE OPEN TO MANY DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES"
REMOVING THE MERRIMACK VILLAGE DAM IS AN ENTICING OPPORTUNITY FOR PENNICHUCK.
STEPHANIE LINDLOFF IS THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES? RIVER RESTORATION COORDINATOR.
SHE SAYS REMOVAL IS BECOMING A MORE AND MORE POPULAR OPTION FOR DAM OWNERS.
LINDLOFF TAPE: CONSIDERED BEST OPTION
STATE AND FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS HAVE BEGUN TO OFFER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO DAM OWNERS WHO?D LIKE TO TAKE DOWN THEIR DAMS.
SOME OF THAT FUNDING IS GEARED TOWARD RESTORING THE RIVER TO ITS FREE-FLOWING STATE.
IN PARTICULAR, BIOLOGISTS SAY THE SOUHEGAN RIVER HAS EXCELLENT SPAWNING HABITAT FOR FISH LIKE ATLANTIC SALMON, SHAD, AND SEA LAMPREY.
BUT THOSE SPAWNING GROUNDS ARE UPRIVER AND THE FISH CAN'T GET OVER THE MERRIMACK DAM.
KEN SPRANKLE IS A FISHERIES BIOLOGIST WITH THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.
HE SEES GREAT POTENTIAL FOR THE SOUHEGAN RIVER IF THE DAM IS REMOVED.
SPRANKLE TAPE
THOUGH REMOVING THE DAM SEEMS TO HAVE NO NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES, SOME PEOPLE IN MERRIMACK HAVE VOICED SOME CONCERNS.
ONE IS THE GRANITE BRIDGE THAT SPANS THE RIVER, JUST BELOW THE DAM'S WATERFALL.
MERRIMACK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR JAY MINKARAH
MINKARAH BRIDGE
STATE RIVER RESTORATION COORDINATOR STEPHANIE LINDLOFF SAYS THAT DAM REMOVAL IS A LENGTHY AND COMPREHENSIVE PROCESS.
AND HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CONCERNS AREN'T IGNORED.
LINDLOFF 003 7:40
THE OTHER IS CONCERN FOR THE MANMADE WETLANDS THAT FORMED AS A RESULT OF THE DAM?S CONSTRUCTION.
WHAT USED TO BE FREE FLOWING WATER BECAME A STAGNANT POND AFTER THE DAM?S WALL WAS PUT UP.
SOME HOMEOWNERS WHO LIVE NEAR THE POND WORRIED THAT RESTORING THE RIVER WOULD HARM THE WILDLIFE IN THE POND?S ECOSYSTEM.
U-S FISH AND WILDLIFE?S KEN SPRANKLE SAYS THOSE FEARS ARE UNFOUNDED.
SPRANKLE CUT "WILL ACTUALLY HELP THE POPULATIONS..."
THE MERRIMACK VILLAGE DAM IS UP FOR INSPECTION THIS FALL.
BECAUSE REPAIRS OFTEN OUTWEIGH THE COSTS OF OUTRIGHT REMOVAL, PENNICHUCK WILL LIKELY MAKE ITS DECISION AT THAT TIME.
FOR NHPR NEWS, I?M CAROLYN D?AQUILA.
