Hello, NH:

There is a good amount of head and flow at this mill site, but something tells me even diverting a small channel from the main river would be considered "messing w/ the river" as far as the enviromental authorities are concerned. I would think the mill restoration group would have tried that as a "plan B."

Scribner's Mill is already over a wide canal-like section directly parallel and right next to the main river. But it is not that long... Some water still flows under the mill and rejoins about 50-yards down stream. A long but small diameter "undershot" wheel (set across the river)grabbed the flow, and they want to re-create this. You may remember in the original thread, the whole wheel was submerged, which allowed it to remain ice-free (so they say). Running year-round was what allowed this mill to run as long as it did.

Curious about the "vertical blade mill" you mentioned in your last post. Do you have a picture of this wheel / blade set-up you could post?

An enjoyable discussion...