A fish ladder restoration project in Woolwich has had researchers interested in protecting safe passage for alewives in Nequasset Brook embark on a land ownership mystery.

Woolwich selectmen recently approved funding for a survey to find out where the town owns property by the Nequasset Lake Dam, which is owned and maintained by the Bath Water District. 

The water district is responsible for maintaining the attached fish ladder to ensure safe alewife passage each year in the spring and fall. The fish ladder needs to be repaired and the water district has sought help from volunteer groups and residents. 

According to Fish Commissioner William Potter, the water district does not own all of the property on which the ladder is located, and their search results will ultimately help the fish ladder restoration project move ahead. 

According to the historical record, the water district took property across the brook by eminent domain back in 1921 to build the dam. They gave back a portion of this land to the town and, up until the survey, townspeople did not know exactly where these boundary lines were located.

During their October 1 meeting, selectmen authorized those involved in the project to spend up to $4,000 in order to conduct a title search and to cover the associated costs for legal assistance. The additional survey will attempt to locate town owned property beyond what the water district returned to the town, and to create a deed.

Potter showed selectmen the survey map illustrating the water district's property lines along the brook. Potter and Allison Hepler, a board of selectmen member and town historian, have been working on the research project in concert with restoration efforts. Several others, including the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust and the Department of Marine Resources, have supported restoration of the fish ladder in Nequasset Brook.

“This is one of the better fisheries,” Potter said during a follow-up telephone conversation. He said people are beginning to see the value of sustaining this fishery that several years ago was taken for granted.

“I think it's worth it to the town to find out what we own down there,” Board Chairman David King said Monday night. He said the town owns property on the far side of the fish house, closest to the brook and that once the survey work is complete it might be possible to use available state funds for a boat landing there.