The Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder Restoration is a grass-roots, community project run by volunteers and supported by people like you. Donations of any size help make this project possible. If you find it exciting to really make a difference—to bring back a depleted alewife population and to help the wildlife that depends on them as well as to preserve and enhance a place for up-close viewing of that wildlife—please consider helping! Every dollar that is donated goes directly to project costs!
The 2022 Christmas storm caused a huge ash tree to come crashing down on the pedestrian bridge, crushing the railings and making a general mess of things at the fish ladder. Luckily, the pools suffered no damage.
The old bridge, which served us well for seventy years, has been replaced. We were also able to do some major masonry repairs on a portion of the pools. Constant thawing, freezing and pounding water takes its toll each year.
The original plan for our next project was to replace the lower walkway as early as next spring, but with more consideration we have realized it makes more sense to finish the lower ladder at the same time. This will involve adding another pool (we’d have 70 instead of 69), and repairing the rock work underneath the walkway and across the stream (see photo above). There is tentative discussion about repairing the cement work around the harvesting area at the same time since we will already have the machinery in there.
The new, revised plan is to shore up the walkway for now and add temporary railings before our visitors arrive in the spring. Once again we need your help for this new, much larger, project. Making donations, buying Tshirts and hats, participating in our 5K and attending the concert at Lincoln Theater on Memorial Day weekend are all ways you can help us meet the goals to restore and maintain our stone fish ladder, which. arguably, is the most beautiful fish ladder in the world. It is truly amazing what a community can do when we all work together to make things happen.
Thank you for your continued support.
Donations can also be made to the Fish Ladder Restoration Fund, Nobleboro Historical Society. The Nobleboro Historical Society is a charitable 501(c)3 organization, and donations are tax-deductible. Checks should be made out and mailed as follows:
Fish Ladder Restoration Fund
Nobleboro Historical Society
PO Box 122
Nobleboro, ME 04555
You will receive a letter of acknowledgment after your donation is received. We will not share or disclose your personal details to anyone. Please email Laurel Ames, Project Treasurer, with any questions at [email protected]. Thank you!
