This Web page is a clearinghouse of maps, photographs, newspaper articles, and other information relevant to the restoration of salt marsh habitat at the former site of Sherman Lake in Newcastle, Maine (map | satellite photo).
In the 1930s, a dam was constructed to carry the old Route 1 across the tidal Marsh River in Newcastle, Maine. The dam caused upstream salt marshes to be replaced by a freshwater body that became known as Sherman Lake. Although the state decommissioned the dam in the mid-1960s, when the new Route 1 was elevated over the dam site, the structure and the lake remained in place.
In October 2005, heavy rains caused the dam to collapse, releasing the fresh water that formed Sherman Lake and allowing tidal waters back into the former site of the manmade lake.
On January 31, 2006, the Maine Department of Transportation announced that it would not replace the dam. Instead, the drained area will be allowed to return to salt marsh, as it was prior to construction of the dam in the 1930s.
Statement of MaineDOT Commissioner David Cole concerning Sherman Lake Dam in Newcastle, Maine January 31, 2006 (PDF, 79 KB)
News release: MaineDOT announces decision on future of Sherman Lake dam January 31, 2006 (PDF, 579 KB)
Sherman Lake: Recommendation for follow-up to dam failure (Memo from Charles Hebson, MaineDOT Environmental Office) January 18, 2006 (PDF, 147 KB)
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Other aerial views before dam breach: |
Other aerial views after dam breach: Aerial photos after dam breach courtesy of Lincoln County News |
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Photo library
This link will take you to a listing of photos in the Sherman Lake photo library. Click on a file name to see the photo. To get back to this page from the list, click the "Back" button in your Web browser.
Plant survey immediately after the dam breach: Excel (25 KB) | CSV (3 KB) | PDF (32 KB)
Sherman Lake topographic map: Small jpeg (33 KB) | Large jpeg (487 KB)
Sherman Lake region topographic map (jpeg, 466 KB)
Habitat map (jpeg, 204 KB)
Wetlands map (jpeg, 332 KB)
Property lines map (jpeg, 331 KB)
GPS points map (jpeg, 341 KB)
USFWS field data map (October 28, 2005) (jpeg, 268 KB)
Sherman Lake proposed sites (jpeg, 394 KB)
State Decides Not To Replace Man-Made Lake
Reported by: Barbara Cariddi Date aired: January 31, 2006
Sherman Lake in Newcastle will likely remain a memory. State transportation officials have decided not to rebuild the dam that created and contained the man-made lake. The dam washed out last year, draining the scenic lake into a salt marsh and now town officials have mixed feelings about the DOT's decision to relegate the Sherman Lake to history.
Officials Ponder How To Restore Missing Lake
Reported by: Barbara Cariddi Date aired: November 9, 2005
Today, state and local officials joined lake residents at the site of Sherman Lake in Newcastle to try to figure out whether to rebuild the dam and restore the lake, or whether to allow it to revert back to the salt marsh it once was 70 years ago.
This list is an archive of news articles about Sherman Lake. Click the links to read the text of the articles. Please note: Because files are archived from the newspapers' original Web pages, some portions of the Web pages, such as advertisements and other images, may not appear properly.
Eagles sighted at Sherman Marsh (Word, 21 KB) (February 12, 2006) Eagle photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
DOT Floats Option of Sherman Lake Dam Maintenance
Editorial - Sherman Lake: Extinction or Resurrection?
Agencies oppose restoration of Sherman Lake
DOT To Host Meeting on Sherman Lake Dec. 15
State and Federal Agencies Focus on Former Sherman Lake
Letter to the Editor: Resist Temptation to Mend 'Damage'
Newcastle Selectmen Discuss Upcoming Sherman Lake Public Meeting
Newcastle Selectmen Discuss Sherman Lake Damage
Newcastle Selectmen to Formulate a Stand Regarding Sherman Lake
Commentary - Remembering Sherman Lake
Will the DOT Repair the Sherman Lake Dam?
Letter to the Editor: Put Nature Back in Charge at Sherman Lake
Illustration
Click here to enlarge
Illustration by Ethan Nedeau/biodrawversity.com