Maine town eyes fixing dam that holds back tides of mercury

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 22, 2026

Industrial mercury contamination in the Penobscot River has moved up the neighboring Orland River, held back by just a nearly century-old dam that needs expensive repairs or replacement. The tide now regularly washes over the top of the dam from the mercury-contaminated water below, potentially carrying some of it upstream. Mercury has been found in smaller amounts above the dam. The town of Orland is investigating options to fix up or replace the dam and hold back waters during even extreme tides. It also wants to improve the attached fishway, a key to maintaining — and ideally increasing — the town’s commercial alewife harvest.