Site work for a water / sewer project in Auburn, Maine. Conceptual plans call for site work for a water / sewer project.

https://www.sunjournal.com/2025/01/23/after-years-of-talks-auburn-preps-to-remove-littlefield-dam-on-little-androscoggin-river/ After years of talks, Auburn preps to remove Littlefield Dam on Little Androscoggin River Officials and environmental organizations are hoping Atlantic salmon and other migratory fish will return upriver. 3 min read Resize Font Font size + 2 Gift article Share Print 1 of 5 Planning is underway to remove the defunct Littlefield Dam on the Little Androscoggin River in Auburn. A number of people with expertise in river restoration were given a tour of the area Thursday. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal Buy Image AUBURN — A yearslong effort to remove the defunct Littlefield Dam along the Little Androscoggin River in Auburn is finally nearing deconstruction. The city is seeking engineering consultants to plan a $3 million removal, which officials and environmental organizations are hoping will lead to Atlantic salmon and other migratory fish returning upriver. The project has been discussed for several years, but did not receive federal funding until last year, making it possible for the city to move forward with planning. The $3.5 million for Auburn was part of a $240 million package from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. At the time of the announcement, a NOAA statement said “this historic level of funding will reopen migratory pathways and restore access to healthy habitat for fish across the country.” Rewind 10 seconds Move forward 10 seconds Unmute 0:00 / 0:09 Auburn lawmaker takes heat for posting photos of student athlete she identifies as transgenderAuburn lawmaker takes heat for posting photos of student athlete she identifies as transgender Explore More The Littlefield Dam, a former hydropower dam, was breached in the 1980s, making it obsolete. However, in recent years as other dam removal and fish passage efforts have been successful in restoring fisheries, interest has grown from outside agencies and nonprofits to restore fish passage to the Little Androscoggin River. One location that is being explored for access to the Littlefield Dam is behind the Maine Waste-to-Energy plant in Auburn. Large pieces of construction equipment will be needed to access the defunct dam. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal Buy Image In addition to opening miles of habitat for fish, officials say the work will also allow the city and its partners to assess the feasibility of improving fish passage at three additional dams in the area. Advertisement On Thursday, representatives from NOAA Fisheries and a few interested firms with river restoration expertise attended a walkthrough at the dam between Maine Waste to Energy and Littlefield Road. Requests for proposals are due Feb. 25. John Blais, deputy director of planning and permitting in Auburn, said Thursday that the design will take about a year. Construction is scheduled to begin in July 2026 and be complete in December 2026. He said many organizations will be attached to the project, from local groups like Auburn’s Conservation Working Group to U.S. Fish & Wildlife. “It really is totally all about fish at the end of the day,” he said. “The ultimate prize,” he said, is Atlantic salmon, but the dam removal could also allow other migratory fish like alewives and shad to travel farther upstream as well. According to NOAA, millions of fish migrate each year to their spawning habitats to reproduce, but are often blocked from completing the journey by human-made barriers, such as dams and culverts, that hurt fish populations. NOAA has so far conducted more than 600 fish migration projects, including dam removals and hydropower facility updates, which combined have opened nearly 6,000 miles of rivers and streams for fish migration. An announcement of the grant said the Littlefield Dam removal would also “support the local community by helping improve public safety,” removing a dangerous and defunct structure, as well as “create opportunities for recreation and tourism, and developing fish as an important food source.” The city, through its Conservation Group, has been seeking funding for the removal since at least 2018, but past efforts to apply for grants have either not been funded or required significant local match. __________________________________________________________________________________ Questions regarding this Request for Proposals should be submitted in writing to John Blais, Deputy Director of Public Services, at jblais@auburnmaine.gov via email All questions and answers will be posted to the City website in the form of an addendum by 4:00PM, on Friday, February 21st, 2025. Question Deadline 02/20/2025 at 4:00 PM ET The City of Auburn is accepting written proposals from qualified Bidders for the Auburn Littlefield Dam Removal and Little Androscoggin Watershed Improvements. The City wishes to procure engineering, permitting, environmental review, construction oversight, and post-construction monitoring services for the Littlefield Dam Removal and Little Androscoggin Watershed Improvements at Littlefield Dam in Auburn, Maine. The City also reserves itself the exclusive right to accept any proposals when it is deemed by the City to be in its best interest. The City of Auburn is governed by Title 1 M.R.S.A. 401-410, otherwise known as the Freedom of Information Act, which considers bid specifications as public documents. In awarding any proposal, the City may consider, but not be limited to, any of the following factors: Bidder qualifications, price, experience, financial standing with the City, warranties, references, delivery date, and service of Bidder. Vendors/Contractors shall be current on all amounts due to the City of Auburn prior to the City entering into any contract agreement. All proposals must include FOB to Auburn, Maine unless otherwise specified. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals in whole or in part and to waive any informality the City may determine necessary.