.Camden voters should vote “No” June 10 on ARTICLE 7 — “Shall the Town vote to authorize the removal of the Montgomery Dam and spillway….” for the following reasons. 

First, A “No” vote on Article 7 will let us shift the focus of Camden’s water resiliency issues to more critical places. 

Second, Article 7 is focused on a low-hazard-potential dam — the Montgomery Dam at the end of the Megunticook Watershed and the head of the harbor. 

We should be focused on two high-hazard-potential dams — the East and West Dams at the lower head of the watershed and the intersection of Molyneaux Road and Beaucaire Avenue.

A failure of Montgomery Dam, the last dam on the Megunticook Watershed, would release water from a small mill pond under Camden Deli at the head of the harbor into a large body of water, the Camden Harbor continuing to Penobscot Bay. 

A failure of the East and West Dams, the first dams on the lower Megunticook Watershed, would release water from the large Megunticook Lake and Norton Pond into a narrow body of water, the Megunticook Watershed, continuing for 3.5 miles past private homes and public spaces. 

Third, Article 7 is focused on things that might happen. 

We should be focused on things that are happening. 

Increasingly frequent and severe storm surges in Camden Harbor are already causing millions of dollars of damage to private and town properties.

Increasingly frequent wind and rainstorms are already causing town wastewater and culverts to overflow, resulting in raw sewage spilling into streets and the undermining of roads.

Camden voters should vote “No” on Article 7. 

A “No” vote lets us shift the focus to more critical places. 

Richard Anderson lives in Camden