Skowhegan, Maine—The Somerset County Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee and Somerset County Commissioners recently awarded $40,000 from the Community Benefits Fund for the Run of River Whitewater Recreation Area. Run of River is a proposed whitewater park and expanded trails network that will be located in and around the Kennebec River Gorge in downtown Skowhegan.

The $40,000 from the county brings the total raised for Run of River in the last six months up to $93,000. This includes a $25,000 grant from the Quimby Family Foundation, a $25,000 matching gift from a Maine Community Foundation Donor Advised Fund, and $3,000 raised via Skowhegan River Fest event proceeds.

“Fundraising for Run of River is gaining traction, and it’s so exciting,” said Kristina Cannon, Run of River Committee member and Main Street Skowhegan executive director. “We are thrilled that the county TIF committee recognizes the value of the proposed whitewater park and trail system and the positive impact they will have on recreational tourism and economic development in the region.”

On Tuesday night, the Skowhegan Select Board approved the use of $25,000 of these fundraising dollars for field data collection, which will include a survey of the riverbed and an inspection of the gorge to determine the location of debris from the railroad bridge that washed away during the flood of 1987. Data collection will happen within the next eight weeks.

Data from the field work will be used to create computer-generated 3D hydraulic models for fisheries review—a requirement by state and federal agencies. These 3D models will cost an estimated $65,000, and the $40,000 awarded by the county combined with the $25,000 gift from the donor advised fund will pay for this work.

“We were happy to be able to help with the Run of River project, and we look forward to seeing it completed,” said Newell Graf, Somerset County Commissioner.

With the money raised for 3D modeling, the next fundraising goal is $180,000 to cover the costs of required permits from state and federal agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Run of River Committee is applying for grants and researching other possible funding sources, with the intention of beginning permitting in the spring of 2019.

“Because this type of project has not been permitted before in the State of Maine, the permitting process could take up to two years,” said Cannon. “We are planning for construction of the whitewater park to begin in the summer of 2021, so it’s critical for us to raise the $180,000 and move forward with permitting this spring.”

The timeline for construction for the whitewater park in the summer of 2021 will coincide with the installation of a fish passage apparatus at Weston Dam, located just upriver from the proposed site of the whitewater park, which will ensure low water levels in the Skowhegan gorge.

Final design of the whitewater park and construction of three whitewater features in the river, access trails, terraced seating on the bank, and removal of railroad bridge debris from bottom of the gorge is expected to cost an estimated $4.96 million. The Town of Skowhegan has reserved $1.4 million in Sappi TIFdollars, leaving the committee $3.56 million left to raise for construction.

“We still have quite a bit of money left to raise, but the momentum is building and we’re up to the challenge because this an important project for the town, the county, and the state,” said Cannon.

For more information, please contact Kristina Cannon at Kristina@mainstreetskowhegan.org or 207-612-2571.

Skowhegan, Maine—The Run of River Committee has raised $50,000 to fund next steps of the Run of River Whitewater Recreation Area, sited for the Kennebec River Gorge in downtown Skowhegan.

A Quimby Family Foundation Grant for $25,000 and a $25,000 matching gift from a Maine Community Foundation Donor Advised Fund will help cover the costs of next steps, including supplemental data collection required for permitting.

“We are thrilled that we’re gaining momentum with Run of River fundraising and that people believe in the project enough to invest,” said Kristina Cannon, Run of River Committee member and Main Street Skowhegan executive director. “We can’t thank the Quimby Family Foundation and the donor enough for their support—it’s tremendous.”

During the last six months, the Run of River Committee, along with project engineer Kleinschmidt Associates and architect McLaughlin Whitewater Design Group, met with Brookfield Renewable, U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other agencies to determine requirements for permitting.

As a result of these meetings, the committee intends to use $25,000 of the grant funding for field data collection, which will include bathymetric surveying of the riverbed and a debris survey to determine the location of remains from the railroad bridge that washed away during the flood of 1987.

Data from the field work will be used to create computer-generated 3D hydraulic models for fisheries review—a requirement by agencies in recent meetings. These 3D models will cost an estimated $65,000, leaving a $40,000 gap in funding. While data is being gathered this summer, the committee will work to raise money to cover this gap.

Once the committee has completed all requirements, permit applications can be submitted. The permitting process is expected to take one to two years.

Committee members hope to start construction for the whitewater park in the summer of 2021, a timeline that will coincide with the installation of a fish passage apparatus at Weston Dam, located just upriver from the proposed site of the whitewater park.

In addition to funding, the committee received other good news last week—Skowhegan has been named an Outdoor Sports Institute (OSI) Community Partner. OSI will work with the Run of River Committee and Main Street Skowhegan to foster and grow an active group of outdoor recreation enthusiasts in Skowhegan. Led by local stakeholders, the initiative will include trainings, programming, and outdoor gear to teach people the skills to recreate safely.

“We are excited that OSI recognizes Skowhegan as a community that has great potential when it comes to outdoor recreation,” said Cannon. “With the plans for the Run of River Whitewater Recreation Area—which will be a venue for whitewater paddling, hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and more—it’s critical that we engage our local residents and offer them the knowledge and tools to use the recreation area.”

The committee and Main Street Skowhegan intend to make trainings free for all, and plans are in the works to create a gear locker that would allow residents to borrow equipment like kayaks, canoes, mountain bikes, cross-country skis, and more at no cost.

“We want to make sure that people from Skowhegan and the local area can get out and get active in the river and on the trails. We want Run of River to be more than just an attraction for people from away; we want it to benefit our local community members as well,” said Cannon.

These announcements come only a few short weeks after Run of River Committee partner Main Street Skowhegan received a $10,000 grant for development of a trail sited for the whitewater recreation area in downtown Skowhegan. The committee, Main Street Skowhegan, Somerset Woods Trustees, the Skowhegan Parks & Recreation Department, and invested local citizens are working together to construct this trail as well as others in the region.

“Run of River is going to be a game-changer for Skowhegan—economically and from a health and wellness perspective—and we’re working hard to make sure the plan becomes a reality,” Cannon said.