Episode 3: Ripples in Time: Histories of the Saco River (Pollution and River History)

We would very much like to thank Broad Reach Adventures (https://broadreachadventures.com/) for their hospitality and for helping us complete the archaeological portion of this course. A very big thank you to Keith Landry for permission to use his music. You'll find our theme music, "Into the Light (This Lazy River), on Keith's Alonetone site. The full album is available at: https://alonetone.com/keithlandryacoustic/playlists/saco-river-pirate/into-the-light-this-lazy-river. Finally, a huge thanks to Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse (https://woodislandlighthouse.org/) for showing us around the lighthouse. It's an amazing spot and the tour is utterly fantastic.ReferencesBaum, E. (1997). Maine Atlantic Salmon: A National Treasure. Hermon, ME: Atlantic Salmon Unlimited. 224 p.Bouvé, E.W. Plan of Lands of Saco Water Power Co. at Saco & Biddeford, ME 1846. 1846. Map F157. Maine Historical Society, Portland, Maine.Danforth, R. Fire at Marblehead Boatyard, Biddeford, 1965. May 4, 1965. MMN #31103. MacArthur Public Library, Biddeford, York County, Maine. December 3, 2025.Dyer Library / Saco Museum Collection. Salmon Falls Dam (Photograph). c. 1900. Local Code 40; Main Memory Network Item #22681. Saco Museum, Saco, York County, Maine. Accessed November 10, 2025.History of Saco and Biddeford, George Folsom. Maine Historical Society, Portland, Maine.Kelley, J.T., Barber, D.C., Belknap, D.F., FitzGerald, D.M., van Heteren, S., & Dickson, S.M. (2005). Sand budgets at geological, historical and contemporary time scales for a developed beach system, Saco Bay, Maine, USA. Marine Geology, 214(1-3), 117-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2004.10.027MERC Trash Plant folder, 1970-2009, McArthur Public Library, Newspapers (Misc.)National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries. (2024). Atlantic Salmon: Protected. Retrieved from https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/atlantic-salmon/protectedNieland, J. L., Sheehan, T. F., & Saunders, R. (2015). Assessing demographic effects of dams on diadromous fish: a case study for Atlantic salmon in the Penobscot River, Maine. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 72(8), 2423-2437. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsv083Saco River Folder Archive, Saco Falls and Mill Dams, Biddeford-Saco (Photograph). 1912. McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, York County, Maine. Accessed November 5, 2025Saco Water Power Company. Engineering Notebook #1. 1848. McArthur Public Library Collection; Internet Archive Digital Repository. Accessed November 7, 2025Sanborn Map Company. Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Biddeford, York County, Maine, Sheet 1. 1885. Library of Congress, Digital Sanborn Maps Collection, Washington D.C. Accessed November 5, 2025.Village of Biddeford Maine 1835-1860. 1860. McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, York County, Maine.Walling, H.F. Map of the Villages of Saco and Biddeford York County, Maine. 1851. Maine Historical Society, Portland, Maine.Laws, Carl H. The Saco River Corridor The View from the Valley. Saco River Advisory Committee. MSD 0028/April, 1973, 33828. McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, York County, Maine. Accessed Oct 29, 2025.Woodlot Alternatives, Inc, 54 Cumberland Street Brunswick, Maine 040111. An Analysis Of Potential Impacts To Wetlands, Wildlife, And Visual/Aesthetic Resources (A Component of The) Spring/Bradbury Alternative Fish Passage Study Cataract Hydropower ProjectSaco River, Maine. Central Maine Power Company Environmental & Licensing Department, Edison Drive Augusta, Maine 04336. Nov, 1992. McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, York County, Maine. Accessed Nov 12, 2025.