FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:\ Aaron C. Miller, Town Manager\ Town of Vassalboro, Maine\ Tel: (207) 872-2826 | Fax: (207) 872-5414\ PO Box 129, North Vassalboro, ME 04962
Town of Vassalboro Partners with Penobscot Indian Nation and State to Seek Federal Grant for Mill Hill Road Crossing Upgrade
VASSALBORO, ME — July 8, 2026 — The Town of Vassalboro has announced its formal participation as a municipal partner in a major environmental and infrastructure project. The project, titled “Reconnecting Habitats for Anadromous Fishes in the Penobscot Watershed and Adjacent Drainages,” is a collaborative initiative led by the Penobscot Indian Nation alongside the Maine Department of Marine Resources and the Maine Department of Transportation.
The coalition is actively seeking funding from the Federal Highway Administration through the competitive Culvert Aquatic Organism Passage Opportunity grant. If awarded, the grant will fully fund the replacement of the aging and improperly sized crossing on Mill Hill Road in Vassalboro.
The current infrastructure at Sevenmile Stream is severely undersized for the waterway. It creates a physical barrier that blocks critical sea-run and climate-resilient fish stocks from reaching their native upstream spawning habitats. While Vassalboro leadership has long considered this crossing a high priority, the scale of the replacement requires external federal backing to move forward.
“The coordination provided by the Penobscot Indian Nation and the State of Maine is exactly what is needed to make this project a reality,” said Vassalboro Town Manager Aaron C. Miller. “By leveraging federal grant dollars, we can successfully replace this failing infrastructure and eliminate a heavy financial burden that would otherwise fall squarely on our local taxpayers.”
In addition to correcting structural deficiencies on Mill Hill Road, the regional project will yield massive ecological and recreational benefits. Restoring the natural stream flow will grant endangered Atlantic salmon and other sea-run species access to 7,999 acres of alewife habitat, over 1,670 units of salmon habitat, and more than 80 miles of vital river systems. The expanded fish passage is also expected to enhance regional recreational harvesting opportunities for local families.
The Town of Vassalboro remains fully committed to working with its state and tribal partners to implement a sustainable, long-term solution for Sevenmile Stream.