CANTON – There will be no federal stimulus money to build a new dam for Anasagunticook Lake, the committee charged with formulating a plan for it learned at their meeting Monday night.

Robert Thompson, executive director of the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, indicated stimulus money was directed toward creating and restoring jobs, committee member Judy Hamilton told the Dam Core Committee. She said he also told her that better information on the project is needed. She also advised that stimulus money is going to already ranked projects, and the dam project was not on the list.

Committee member Polly Bussiere said she hasn’t had a reply from two state senators about grant possibilities.

Some committee members suggested that the state Department of Inland Wildlife and Fisheries be contacted for possible grants, if keeping fish in the lake was a concern.

The dam on Whitney Brook would replace the dilapidated one the town took by eminent domain last summer. Due to its condition, its flood gates have been open since May 2007, lowering the lake level by 6 feet.

Whitney Brook is an outlet at the northeast corner of the lake in Canton.

Because most of the 556-acre lake is in Hartford, the two towns are working on an agreement on ownership, maintenance and operation of the dam.

The dam committee, made up of members from Canton and Hartford, has suggested each town have two voting members and the Canton Water District be an adviser with no voting privileges. The proposed agreement stipulates that maintenance costs for the dam would be split evenly.

Hartford Selectman Jack Plumley has said he thinks Hartford should be considered part owner of the dam. The town voted last year to give $20,000 toward Canton’s effort to take ownership of it from Ray Fortier of Sabattus.

David Bowen of Hartford, who chaired Monday’s meeting, asked fellow Selectman Lee Holman to make sure the agreement is on the next board agenda.