FAQ

Why is the dam changing ownership now?

The dams were built 100 years ago so that Toddy Pond and Alamoosook Lake could be used to supply water for the paper-making plant in Bucksport. Verso sold the dam to American Iron and Metal (AIM) in 2014 along with the three dams for Toddy Pond, Alamoosook Lake, and Silver Lake. The ownership of the properties was transferred to Bucksport Mill LLC (BuckMill) shortly after the sale. BuckMill is a demolition company and as they have finished taking apart the mill, they are looking to rid themselves of the dams.

Who was involved in crafting a solution to this regional problem?

The Narramissic Watershed Coalition (NWC) provided the leadership to address this situation. The group consists of Orland, Surry, Penobscot, Blue Hill, Toddy Pond Association, and Alamoosook Lake Association. State Representatives Nina Milliken and Steve Bishop were instrumental in writing the final legislation that created the Toddy Pond Watershed Management Districts.

What are the Watershed Management Districts?

The Toddy Pond Watershed Management District (TPWMD), is a quasi-municipal entity created by the legislature that give the district many of the advantages of being a town. It is protected from liability, can raise funds, attach liens and can apply for grants and funding like a town. It will be governed by a board of town and waterfront owners. 

What was the process for developing these Districts?

To craft a potential ownership model for the Toddy dam, NWC has undertaken extensive efforts to assess the potential impacts of the lakes being drained as a result of Bucksport Mill LLC’s dam abandonment petition. The group assessed the property tax loss implications, the impact on local businesses, and an estimation of the environmental and recreational impacts. With that information in hand, the group developed a robust effort to seek Community input into the design of the ownership entity through surveys and public input meetings.

Both the survey and the town meetings verified that the majority of participants wanted the lakes to be preserved. The other majority view was that the costs should be shared between the lakefront property owners and the Towns. 

At least one municipality must vote to form the district for it to be implemented. On November 4, 2025 each town overwhelmingly voted to support the creation of the TPWMD. 

As a lakefront owner, I already pay higher taxes because I live on the lake, so why do I have to pay more?

There is one standard mill rate in each of the four towns (each town sets its own mill rate). In general, the waterfront owners pay more as the value of their property is higher because it’s on a lake. While an argument can be made that the lakes are a public resource, enjoyed by many other people besides the owners, there are a significant number of people in the 4 towns who feel the lakefront owners enjoy the lake to a higher degree and therefore don’t feel the entire town should assume the cost of ownership of the dams. This admittedly imperfect compromise splits the cost of owning and maintaining the dams between the towns and the lakefront property owners.

Economic Impact: In addition to an estimated $50 million reduction of waterfront property value, the release of the lake water would result in the potential loss of $9 million of revenues in the local economy

Safety Impacts: Elimination of the lake water would negatively impact local fire department’s ability to fight household, vehicle and business fires since water used to suppress fires is drawn from both lakes.

What happens if any/all the towns decide to not share the cost of owning the dams?

If joining and funding the district is approved by the voters in each town, the Toddy Pond Watershed District will be formed. Governance and costs will be shared between the towns and the lakefront property owners. If in future years any town opts out, the assessment for that town will be shifted to the lakefront property owners in that town. The rationale is that those owners would vigorously advocate for their municipality to continue to fund the TPWMD. If all the towns decide to not continue funding the district, the district would then consist of the lakefront property owners with one municipal representative from Orland. This would allow the district to continue as a quasi-municipal entity with the ability to raise money and have liability protection like any other town. Although this sounds frightening, it means that the lakefront property owners would have the final say in any budgets, projects, or decisions around the dams and lakes.

How much extra will this cost me?

Please see the Cost Estimator to answer this question.