Differing plans to establish fish passage at the Saccarappa Dam in Westbrook are the subject of a public meeting next week called by Sappi Fine Paper.

Sappi, which has operated the dams for decades, has long been in discussions with the city, environmental groups and government agencies about dam removal and fish passage at Saccarappa. In just two years, engineering, design and construction on the project must be accomplished to meet the deadline set by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Last month, representatives from each player in the discussions said the two plans for establishing fish passage at the site have major differences, including how they would allow fish to travel upstream and how they would impact the potential for recreational amenities on the river.

The next chance for officials to move the project along will be on Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 7 p.m. in Room 114 of Westbrook High School.

John Williams, a spokesman for Sappi Fine Paper, said Tuesday that the company would not be releasing concept designs of the proposals until the meeting, at which time they will seek input from the public on the designs.

“S.D. Warren will consider public comments from the meeting in selecting a preferred design to submit for approval to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,” a Sappi statement said. “If approved by FERC, the fish passage will be constructed in connection with the removal of the Saccarappa Dam.”

The complete removal of the dams at Saccarappa Falls wasn’t always planned, and the decision to explore “nature-like” fish passage at the site was seen as a win for the city and environmental groups.

After a series of hearings in 2009, state regulations required Sappi to install fish passage at its Cumberland Mills dam. Sappi’s licenses through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which will now require passage on the upstream dams, were contingent on fish passage at Cumberland Mills.

In 2013, Sappi completed its $4.8 million Cumberland Mills fishway project, which now allows river herring, shad and other types of fish to pass up the Presumpscot River for the first time in more than 150 years with the help of what’s known as a Denil fish ladder.

Initially, the federal agency set the deadline for fish passage at Saccarappa for May 2015, and Sappi originally sought to decommission the dams and install a similar fish ladder.

However, last year, an agreement was reached among all stakeholders to ask the commission to delay the deadline until May 2017 for the purpose of studying the complete removal of the dams and possible recreational opportunities. The request was approved.

Michael Shaughnessy, the president of Friends of the Presumpscot, one of the major players in the discussion, said this week that the Saccarappa site is complex, adding to the difficulty of deciding on a plan.

According to Shaughnessy, separate plans submitted by Friends of the Presumpscot and Sappi are both being reviewed by the U.S. Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The Saccarappa site has lower and upper falls, each with a section of dam. The Friends of the Presumpscot proposal for fish passage has a “rock ramp” stemming from the hydro plant, which would have switchbacks to allow fish to swim upstream over the lower falls.

Once fish, such as alewife, shad, herring and salmon, make it up the lower falls, there are two channels, dubbed east and west. The east channel flows past the Dana Warp Mill side, while the west begins just under the boardwalk of Saccarappa Park.

According to Shaughnessy, Sappi’s plan would use a Denil fish ladder similar to the one at Cumberland Mills on the lower falls, and establish fish passage on the western channel of the upper falls. Shaughnessy said the engineer who designed the Friends plan isn’t convinced fish are all going to travel up the west side.

“We don’t really know where they’re going to go,” he said, adding that the falls have been blasted and altered many times over the years from commercial use, contributing to the site’s complexity. “It’s so complicated that our feeling is that we need to let the fish tell us.”

The Friends of the Presumpscot plan would keep both channels open on the upper falls. However, Sappi’s plan, leaving one channel open, would more easily allow for the construction recreational opportunities.

Bill Baker, Westbrook’s assistant city administrator for business and community relations, said Wednesday that Sappi’s one-channel option could work better for establishing a kayak destination.

“Our goal all along has been fish passage with compatible recreational amenities and intuitively it would seem that fish passage in one channel and recreation in the other makes sense,” he said. “The scientific experts will argue the merits of that and come to an appropriate conclusion, we are sure.”

However, Baker said, both proposals that would remove the dams in both channels “is certainly good for the future of this river.” He’s hoping for a compromise.

Williams said Sappi is encouraging “interested citizens to attend the meeting to learn the details and provide comments on the two alternative designs under consideration.”

“We remain hopeful and excited about what the future could bring,” Baker said.

The Princeton Hydro design would utilize both channels in the upper Saccarappa Falls to allow fish to swim upstream. Images courtesy Princeton Hydro and Acheron Engineering Services.A plan supported by Sappi would open the western channel for fish, leaving the eastern channel for potential recreational amenities. Due to the complicated site and designs, Sappi officials are urging residents to attend next week’s meeting to receive the appropriate context.Images courtesy Princeton Hydro and Acheron Engineering Services.