The Lisbon Reporter

WELCOME TO THE LISBON REPORTER. In an effort to keep our community informed of what is going on at local and Federal levels of government, we decided to create this on-line newspaper. It is our hope that this on-line newspaper will help you stay informed so that you can get involved and take action for the benefit of our ENTIRE community. Thank you for visiting and please check back frequently for information about what is happening in LISBON/LISBON FALLS, MAINE USA

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Update On Local Dam Dangers Irene Had

Flood waters endanger dam; 93K still lack power

By Staff and wire reports

Published:

Tuesday, August 30, 2011 2:08 PM EDT

DURHAM — A day after Tropical Storm Irene bowled through Maine, flooding on the state’s rivers and their tributaries posed the threat to public safety.

Concerns about the integrity of a cofferdam on the Androscoggin River led state officials to close the bridge connecting Durham and Lisbon overnight Monday.

Lynette Miller, spokeswoman for the Maine Emergency Management Association, said today that MEMA was notified Monday night that dam officials feared that crest heights of the river above the cofferdam, which was constructed to hold back the Androscoggin while Cianbro reconstructs a portion of the Worumbo hydroelectric dam, would cause flooding downstream.

“The surge from the rain we got during (Tropical Storm) Irene brought the Androscoggin up,” Miller said.

By 10 p.m. Monday, the Maine Department of Transportation had closed the bridge spanning the river and nearby Cedar Pond Road. Both had reopened by 8 a.m. today, according to MDOT spokesman Mark Latti.