In 2024, the Toddy Pond Association, along with the Alamoosook Lake Association were approached by AIM. AIM was looking to transfer ownership of the dams to local entities as they had no further use for the dams, or the impounded lakes. The Lake Associations enlisted the support of the towns of Bucksport, Blue Hill, Orland, Penobscot and Surry to find a solution to the impending change of ownership. Later that year, AIM began the formal process of petitioning Maine DEP to abandon the dams under an older piece of legislation which enabled this. Fairly early on it became clear that Bucksport, with a power generating plant which relied on water from Silver Lake and relying on the lake for its drinking water was in a quite different situation than the four towns surrounding Toddy Pond. Further complicating things, although 4 towns abutted Toddy, the entirety of Alamoosook Lake (and its dam) were in Orland.

Working with local representatives, legislation was drafted in the Maine State Legislature to create two Watershed Management Districts, one for Toddy Pond and its dam as well as one for Alamoosook Lake and the dam there. Instrumental in this effort were members of the Select Boards from each of the 4 towns, Scott Miller from Blue Hill, Gina Bushong from Orland, Harold Hatch from Penobscot and Mary Allen from Surry. Additionally, the two Lake Associations, Toddy Pond Association and Alamoosook Lake Association were heavily involved in creating the draft legislation, raising money to inform the public and educating the people in the four towns. And they were successful. The end of 2025 saw the legislation pass unanimously in the legislature and get signed into law by Governor Mills (read the act here: An Act to Establish the Toddy Pond Watershed Management District). Subsequently all four towns voted overwhelmingly to support the formation of the districts and fund their half of the first (and second) year budgets of the districts.

2026 saw the district actually be formed. Elections were held by the lakefront property owners and 4 representatives were elected; Marc Restuccia, 3 year term, Kevin Turcotte, 2 year term and Ed Dailide and Jeff Hagan, 1 year terms each. The towns appointed 5 representative (as per the legislation) with Blue Hill appointing Steve Rappaport (2 year), Orland appointing George MacLeod (3 year), Richard Crampton (2 year), Penobscot; Jon Albrecht (2 year) and Surry; Lee Bingham (1 year). Officers were elected by the board with Marc Restuccia, president, Jon Albrecht, treasurer and Jeff Hagan, secretary.

So far the district has been busy preparing for the final transfer of ownership to the district of the dam on Toddy Pond. To date they’ve:

• Created budgets for FY 25-26 and 26-27

• Engaged a law firm to represent the district in any ownership transfer discussion

• Sent out the first and now second fiscal year assessments

• Contracted with a bookkeeper to help with the assessments

• Become members of the Maine Municipal Association which offers a great deal of expertise and resources to the district’s board, especially insurance

• Contracted with a local web designer to create the districts website to better keep the public informed of the district activities

• Had bi-weekly public meetings which are available on zoom to any interested party

• Have worked with AIM to do a physical inspection of the Toddy Dam

• Worked to sign a letter of engagement with a dam engineering firm to assist in the inspection and to assist the district in planning initial efforts at repair and maintenance of the dam.

• Developed an RFP, in conjunction with the Alamoosook Lake Watershed Management District, to contract with a firm to do the ongoing operations and maintenance of each dam.

The actual transfer of ownership of the dam to the Toddy District has not yet occurred. The process of identifying all of the property questions surrounding the transfer are more complicated than expected. It is hoped that the dam(s) will transfer to new owners sometime this fall.

Through all of this the district has enjoyed a high level of support from both the lakefront property owners and the citizens in each of the four towns.

As always, questions, suggestions or more information can be found on the website or by reaching out to the board at:info@toddydistrict.org

Thank you
The Board of Trustees
Toddy Pond Watershed Management Distric