Camden postpones vote on future of city centre dam

Camden officials have postponed a citywide vote on the future of the Montgomery Dam in the city center until next spring, after residents were previously scheduled to decide on it in November.

The extension is intended to give residents and officials more time to gather feedback and information on options for dealing with the 200-year-old structure, including preserving, demolishing or partially removing it.

For about five years, the city considered removing the dam because it no longer serves a functional purpose and contributes to flood risk. The process continued in 2022, when the city received a $1.6 million grant from the National Coastal Resilience Fund to help with flood control and fish passage planning along the Megunticook River, where more dams are located further upstream.