| Megunticook River | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Knox County |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Megunticook Lake,Maine |
| • elevation | 142 feet (43 m) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Penobscot Bay |
• coordinates | 44°12′36″N69°03′47″W / 44.210°N 69.063°W /44.210; -69.063 (Megunticook River) |
• elevation | sea level |
| Length | 3.5 mi (5.6 km) |
| Basin size | 32 mi2 (83 km2) |
TheMegunticook River is a 3.5-mile (5.6 km) river inCamden,Maine. It flows southeast fromMegunticook Lake through downtown Camden to the harbour in westPenobscot Bay.[1] The name "Megunticook" is derived from aWabanaki word meaning "Great Swells of the Sea."[2]
The river originates at the spillway ofMegunticook Lake at coordinates44°14′06″N69°05′59″W / 44.2350°N 69.0997°W /44.2350; -69.0997 (Megunticook River source).[1] The 32-square-mile (83 km2) Megunticook Watershed includes portions of Camden,Hope,Lincolnville, andSearsmont. The watershed's topography was formed by glacial activity during thePleistocene epoch.[2]
The headwaters originate in Searsmont and flow through Moody Pond, Levenseller Pond, Norton Pond, and Megunticook Lake before reaching the river proper. Land use within the watershed is 69% forested, with 8% open water and 4% woody wetlands.[3]
The river's flow is regulated by seven dams, most constructed in the 19th century for industrial purposes. TheTown of Camden owns and operates four of these structures:[4]
Three additional dams (Powder Mill, Knowlton Street, and Knox Mill) are located between the Seabright and Montgomery dams.[3]
The river system historically supportedanadromous fish populations. A 2021 feasibility study identified seven species that could potentially utilize the river for spawning:alewife,blueback herring,Atlantic salmon,American eel,sea lamprey,brook trout, andrainbow smelt.[3]
Currently, fish populations consist primarily of stocked species including rainbow trout and brook trout, along withlargemouth bass,smallmouth bass, eels, and variouspanfish. Multiple dams create barriers that prevent sea-run fish migration, with only occasional American eels able to navigate upstream.[2]
The river remains on Maine's list of impaired water bodies due to elevated bacteria levels and inability to support native fish populations.[5]
Settlement began in the late 1700s, with Camden's first mill constructed in 1771 by William Minot.[5] The river became central to local economic development, powering mills that produced flour, textiles, anchors, and gunpowder. At its industrial peak, the river system included 11 dams and 15 mills.[5]
In the 1790s, dam construction for Molyneaux's sawmill and gristmill flooded hundreds of acres, creating the currentMegunticook Lake. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, textile mill discharge occasionally colored the river according to dyes being used.[5]
Industrial activity declined in the 20th century, and many mills ceased operation. In 1992, ownership of the Montgomery Dam transferred to the Town of Camden, making the municipality responsible for maintenance of a structure no longer serving its original industrial purpose.[6]
In 2018, facing repair costs, Camden commissioned a feasibility study of dam management options. The study identified flood risk increases and fish passage barriers associated with the Montgomery Dam.[3] In 2021, the town contractedInter-Fluve, a river restoration engineering firm, to conduct additional analysis.
The Inter-Fluve study concluded that removing the Montgomery Dam and three upstream structures would provide benefits for fish passage, flood risk reduction, and long-term maintenance costs.[7]
Dam removal proposals generated public debate. Supporters cited potential benefits including restored fish migration, reduced flood risk, and lower long-term municipal costs. Opposition groups, including Save the Dam Falls, emphasized the scenic value of the existing waterfall and questioned project costs and environmental benefits.[8]
On June 10, 2025, Camden voters approved a referendum authorizing Montgomery Dam removal by a vote of 1,391 to 995. The measure requires funding from non-property tax sources andCamden Public Library board approval for any Harbor Park modifications.[9]
The decision followed recommendations from the Megunticook River Citizens Advisory Committee, established in 2022, and the Camden Public Library Board of Trustees.[9]
In 2022, Camden received $1.6 million from theNational Fish and Wildlife Foundation andNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration through the National Coastal Resiliency Fund. The grant supports engineering studies for the four lower dams and fish passage design for the three upper dams.[10]
The town operates the dams according to established water level management policies, with daily monitoring by a dam control agent who opens and closes gates for flood control and aesthetic purposes.[4]
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