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Maine ChapterTo explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth 44 Oak St, Suite 301, Portland ME 04101 (207) 761-5616 |
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Allagash History |
Allagash History
In 1970, the
Allagash became the first state
administered river under the National Wild and
Scenic Rivers Act. The Allagash was
to be managed as a “Wild” river under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which
means that it should be accessible mainly by trail.
Churchill Dam,
formerly a log structure was allowed to remain in the river at the time of
designation only because it was a historic-type structure.
Ordinarily, rivers protected under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act must be
free flowing. In the mid
1990’s, Churchill Dam was failing and there were concerns that if the dam was
not replaced, the recreational opportunities for both angling and canoeing would
diminish. In 1997, Maine voters
approved a bond to rebuild Churchill Dam. The construction of the new dam took place without taking into consideration the historic character of the dam and without consulting the National Park Service or the Army Corp of Engineers for the appropriate permits. The resulting structure at Churchill Depot on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway is a concrete and steel structure that does not meet the requirements of a Wild classification under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
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