Mike Ramunno, a tuna fisherman from Biddeford, has owned his mooring in the Saco River for more than six years. He says no one from the city of Biddeford or the University of New England has contacted him about the university’s plan to build a large pier for their 60-foot research vessel.
The university’s plan is scheduled to go before the Biddeford Planning Board for review on Wednesday, May 21.
Ramunno is just one of many fishermen and recreational boaters who say they will be adversely impacted if the university is allowed to construct the pier in their preferred location near the mouth of the river.
Several mooring owners have made it clear that the University of New England will face legal battles if they keep demanding preferential treatment that will impact almost everyone who uses the Saco River for recreational and commercial use.
“If this plan goes through, they [UNE] will essentially be closing off the river to everyone else who uses the river,” Ramunno said. “When you plan to build a house and go to the planning board, you have to notify your abutters. Why doesn’t the university have to notify us about their plan?”
A UNE spokesperson declined an offer to comment on this story.
Ramunno is not alone in his concerns. He and six other mooring owners sent a notice of their concerns to the planning board earlier this week.
The university is hoping to construct a pier consisting of a 28-foot long by 24-foot-wide landing; a 90-foot long by 14-foot-wide approach pier; and an 80-foot long by 24-foot-long pier and a floating dock system.
UNE’s plan has already been approved by both the Saco River Corridor Commission and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The mooring owners and others – including John Schafer, former chair of the Biddeford Harbor Commission and Daniel Chadbourne, Saco’s former harbormaster – have formed an informal alliance. They adamantly maintain that “the university has no power to compel them to move.”
“This might be checkmate,” said Schafer who has been pushing for more transparency in the regulatory process. “We shall see, but I can’t imagine any scenario in which UNE is able to steamroll these mooring owners out of the way. Except possibly in a courtroom, but that would take years. Private property is private property.”
Greg McPherson keeps his 21-foot vessel at a mooring that will be impacted by the university’s plans.
“If this plan goes through, they will
— Mike Ramunno
essentially be closing off
the river to everyone else
who uses the river,”
“It’s already a very narrow part of the river,” McPherson said. “For the life of me, I cannot figure out why no one from the city or the university has contacted me.”
In addition to impacts on mooring owners, both Ramunno and McPherson say that if UNE is allowed to build the pier as it is currently configured recreational fishermen who troll the river will also be impacted.
“That’s a very popular area for striper fishing,” Ramunno added.
“It’s very shallow where they want to put their pier,” Ramunno said. “Why are they refusing to consider the alternative location that will give the depth they actually need? I have a 34-foot boat, and I sometimes find it challenging to turn about at low tide.”
Mooring owners often have to wait years to get a private mooring on the river. They also have to pay $150 per year to the city for their mooring.
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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE 
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