Pipeline Project

[Bob]

HI,

Does anyone have any updates on the new pipeline project going on by the Dam/Launching Ramp? I was up at the lake this past weekend and there is a large crane sitting at the water's edge and steel beams are being set offshore. Are they building some type of temporary coffer dam to set the new pipe out from? I didn't have a camera with me so I couldn't take any pictures.

Bob

[scubadubadog]

Yes. They are building a coffer dam out 90 ft from shore so that they can drain the area and build a new receiving end for the replacement hatchery intake pipeline. They have been replacing the old pipes at the hatchery and up into the knoll.
My understanding is that once the receiving area is dry, they will be pouring concrete, connecting the underground pipeline to the hatchery, and then back filling in a gentle sloping fashion before removing the coffer dam. Once the coffer dam has been removed, the underwater pipeline that will extend well into the lake will be assembled, submerged into place, and connected to the new receiving area.
The new underwater pipeline will extend into deeper lake water to tap into the much colder water below the thermocline. Colder water will help raise trout under the less stressful conditions, thus requiring fewer antibiotics/antifugals that not only keep the hatchery fish disease-free, but run directly into the Merrymeeting River.