The project aims to attract a large boat launch facility.
By Terry Karkos
Staff Writer

CANTON – A prime smallmouth bass fishery and 1,300 feet of shore frontage on the Androscoggin River are expected to ultimately attract a large boat launch facility.

Tim Glidden, director of the Land for Maine’s Future program, said public comment on the project would only be accepted at the board’s meeting from 1 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 16, at the Pine Tree State Arboretum in Augusta.

“This was advertised for 10 days in area newspapers, but we haven’t heard a peep on this one. But, people can still show up at the meeting when we get to this later in the afternoon,” Glidden said Monday.

Last fall, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife bought land and shore front located at the upper end of the impoundment at Riley Dam, which is part of the International Paper facility in Livermore Falls.

Glidden said the state, which intends to build a public boat launch there, is seeking nearly $40,000 from the Land for Maine’s Future program to help with the purchase.

“They had been searching for suitable property for several years, before settling on this site, because a portion of the shore is well protected from river ice,” he added.

Initially the launch is expected to be a carry-in, takeout boat site.

Building the site on the Canton side of the river would reduce the necessity of traveling 12 miles, which is the distance from Harvey Brook and Riley Dam to the carry access site, Glidden said.

“The Riley impoundment is an excellent smallmouth bass fishery, and the land deal would provide anglers additional access to 600 acres of surface waters,” he added.

Construction on the boat launch, for which funding would still need to be sought, is not expected to begin until 2005.

For more information, contact Glidden at 287-1487.