TOPSHAM

Topsham residents could soon find access restricted to the Androscoggin River.

The town selectboard is moving forward with a proposal for a water safety zone ordinance from Brookfield Renewable, which owns the Brunswick hydroelectric facility on the river.

The selectboard decided on Thursday a Water Safety Zone ordinance should be written and presented on Feb. 15.

In its proposal to the town, Brookfield Renewable said of its 170 hydro facilities across North America, the Brunswick facility poses some of the highest safety risks. The company was concerned about people getting too close to the facility and dam when good weather hits. According to the proposal, previous safety measures taken by the company failed to keep residents out of dangerous parts of the river.

The ordinance would prevent anyone from using the river 500 feet downstream of the facility from the Frank J. Wood Bridge to about 3,000 feet upstream to the Maine Department of Transportation railroad bridge. Brookfield said posted warning signs have failed to prevent people from using dangerous parts of the river. The company’s safety crews also have had difficulty putting up boat safety barriers close to the dam due to high water flow and currents.

If the ordinance is approved, Topsham police would have the ability to enforce it by handing out a fine to anyone in the restricted zone. Brookfield’s proposal calls for a $100 fine for firsttime offenders, $250 for a second time and up to $500 for future violations.

The selectboard agreed that the area in question presents a safety concern. Chairman David Douglass recalled rescues made in the river during his time with the fire department.

“I personally pulled 13 people in 10 years out of that stretch of the river,” Douglass said.

Fire Chief Michael Labbe backed up that statement, saying the town gets about three or four calls a year for rescue in that part of the river. When the floodgates are raised and people are on the water, problems usually occur, he added, and rescue can be dangerous.

Residents posed questions about fishing in the river, and one resident requested the town show data on the number and nature of calls for rescue.

Town Manager Rich Roedner stressed this was an initial discussion, and the vote meant he would go forward with drafting final language for the ordinance. He added the town would provide more complete data about emergency calls at the next selectboard meeting on Feb. 15.

chris@timesrecord.com