http://www.tfguild.org/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=17850#Post17850

Some suggested moving the above topic to this "TTRAG" section.
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Mills are neat operations in that they encompass many of our interests.

It is too bad the Scribner's Mill did not get the dam approved. In addition to being more historicaly accurate for operational purposes, a dam would have re-created/re-instated a millpond that was there.

You bring up a good point though Ken... that these old mills will not need to run fulltime as before, so other options should be explored w/out giving up entirely.

The news article on the dam denial http://www.sunjournal.com/story/298846-3/OxfordHills/Maine_DEP_denies_Scribners_Mill_permit/ mentioned some alternatives... a penstock, or a water tower, (what exactly is a penstock?). Currently, they use an large belt powered by an old tractor that idles stationary for exhibits, etc.

As far as those legal provisions you mention, like back in your country, I'm guessing those have been lost once a mill ceases operation for any length of time. Plus, you may remember in my original thread on this mill (here)
http://www.tfguild.org/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=17832#Post17832
that the State of Maine forcibly breached this original dam a few years after the mill ceased. There were 3 mills on this river within 20 miles of each other and Scribner's was in the middle and ran for the longest. The little group bent on restoring things here are pretty fired up, so I bet they'll come up w/ something...probably a compromise, like you suggested, is the only solution.

The mill project you have going in the West Indies sounds different. Tell me, what species of timber is that one built of? Are they able to find indigenous replacement timber or do they have to use other species, etc?

Post some pics.