Visual Assessment
Basin Mills Scenic Assessment
The Bangor Hydro-Electric Company proposed to construct the Basin Mills
Hydroelectric Project on the Penobscot River in the towns of Veazie, Orono, Old
Town, Bradley and Eddington, Maine. The Project consists of upgrades to two
existing facilities and construction of one new dam and powerhouse. The Veazie
Hydro Project would include increasing the capacity of the existing 8.4 MW
development to 16.4 MW. The new Basin Mills facility is designed for a capacity
of 38 MW. The Orono Dam would be decommissioned, but left in place to maintain
existing environmental resources along the upstream Stillwater River. The study
area included a 7.4-mile corridor along the Penobscot River, which included the
impounded area of both the Veazie and Basin Mills dams. As part of the Maine
Waterway Development and Conservation Act permitting process, the state of Maine
required an in-depth study of the visual impacts of the proposed Basin Mills
Project. Devine Tarbell & Associates, Inc.’s (DTA) personnel were retained to
complete this analysis and prepare a report for submission to the Maine State
Planning Office.
The visual assessment of the Basin Mills Hydroelectric Project was completed by
DTA’s staff in association with a local landscape architect responsible for
preparing photo simulations of the proposed facility and building a model of the
proposed facilities for display purposes. In addition, a third-party peer review
specialist was invited to visit the project area and comment on the draft
report. This team approach was designed to strengthen the integrity of the
visual analysis and realistically show the extent of proposed visual impacts to
the public and agency analysts.
DTA’s staff organized and conducted the visual analysis by incorporating field
visit findings with the analysis of aerial photos, ground-level photos, photo
simulations and a scale model of the Basin Mills Project. Current views were
photographed at potentially impacted locations throughout the study area,
including residential neighborhoods, public recreation areas and viewpoints,
transportation corridors and the Penobscot River itself. Impacted areas were
specified and the nature and extent of the visual impacts were identified. The
anticipated duration of potential views was provided along with the proximity of
exposure to project features.
After input from the peer review specialist, a visual analysis report was
prepared detailing visual impacts and site-specific project features designed to
minimize negative visual impacts. Maps showing viewsheds along the project area,
photographs of existing views and photo simulations of project features were
integrated into the report, which was submitted to the Maine Department of
Environmental Protection and the Maine State Planning Office in April 1991. A
notification from these state agencies in May 1991 determined that the visual
analysis was thoroughly completed and fulfilled the agencies needs for permit
processing. The Basin Mills Project was subsequently granted its state permit.