SUN JOURNAL • December 29, 2020
A bill submitted by state Sen. Ned Claxton would upgrade the Androscoggin River’s water quality rating from Class C to Class B, which, if signed into law, would solidify a dramatic turnaround for the once-beleaguered river. The summary language states the bill would “reclassifty the Androscoggin River from Gulf Island Dam (just above Lewiston-Auburn’s Great Falls) to Merrymeeting Bay (near Topsham) from Class C to Class B, based on extensive water quality testing.” Peter Rubins, chairman of Grow L+A’s river working group, said, if approved, the reclassification would become law in time for the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, which marked the beginning of the river restoration effort.