Session A2- Webber Pond Steeppass Fishway

The Webber Pond dam is a concrete, masonry, and earthen structure located on Sevenmile Stream at the outlet of Webber Pond in Vassalboro, Maine. The dam is owned by the Webber Pond Asociation and is adjacent to a boat launch and beach owned by the Town of Vassalboro. Recently an Alaskan Steeppass fish ladder and sorting pool were installed at the dam, along with a new mechanical stoplog system at the pond outlet. Prior to the installation of the fish ladder and sorting pool the dam impeded the passage of upstream migrating fish such as alewives. Before the fishway was installed the Maine Department of Marine, Resources (MDMR) had been netting adult alewives at the base of the dam and lifting them over the dam into the pond for spawning and phosphorous sequestration. The MDMR wanted to improve upstream fish passage into Webber Pond and include a means of checking and sorting fish before they were allowed to pass into the lake. The new fishway provides a means for sorting and harvesting fish, acceptable hydraulics (velocity, angle of approach and turbulence) at the fish ladder entrance, access for cleaning the fish passage of debris, and the protection of the existing bridge foundation located downstream of the dam. The related improvements to the gate structure at the outlet of Webber Pond also provides safe and downstream passage for out migrating alewives and the ability to maintain lake levels while regulating downstream flow