Dear Editor:

Please let me start by stating the Boothbay Harbor Sewer District has no opinion on the expansion of the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. However, the District recognizes the potential risks to Knickerbocker Lake Watershed and the risks should be thoroughly investigated and discussed.

During the public process for building permit acquisition, the CMBG has placed themselves in the sights of the court of public opinion. Debate has surrounded the installation of a public sewer line from Boothbay Common to the entrance to CMBG, potential impact to the Knickerbocker Lake Watershed from the installation of three new leach fields to treat new wastewater, and the environmental stewardship of the CMBG. Recently, the CMBG published a series of “Salient Facts” on their website. The CMBG attempts to support their decisions and how the expansion does not and will not affect the Knickerbocker Watershed.

Some of the “Salient Facts” draws comparison to the Boothbay Harbor Sewer District. The Sewer District has posted full responses to the claims made by CMBG as “Salient Facts” on the District website, www.bbhsd.org and the District Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Boothbay-Harbor-Sewer-District-1627454760890474/. Due to the length of the District responses, I urge you to go to the links above and read the full District response.

Chris Higgins

Superintendent

Boothbay Harbor Sewer District