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Lewiston, Auburn still repairing after winter floods with more rain on the way

Public works directors in both cities said they are applying for FEMA aid. Some of the work to fully repair parks could take months.

LEWISTON, Maine — Water levels along the Androscoggin River on Friday were just inches away from flood stage, according to public works officials in both Lewiston and Auburn.

Water levels are expected to lower before significant rainfall comes to the state this weekend.

For Scott Holland, the public works director for Auburn, the water level this week is nothing compared to the floods in December.

"December was pretty bad," Holland said. "It was traumatic, you hardly ever see Center Street flooded."

Still, Holland said they are monitoring the situation in the event the rain is more than expected, and flooding does happen.

"Hopefully once it goes down it will take on all the rain we are expecting to get," Holland said.

Only one road, North River Road, was closed in Auburn due to minor flooding.

But when it comes to repairs from December's flood, areas along Auburn's riverwalk are still significantly damaged.

A drive over the bridge to Lewiston shows no flooding, but Veteran's Memorial Park is still covered in debris and uplifted asphalt. It appears to not have changed since it was damaged by flood waters in December.

"It's depressing," Jerry Dewitt with the L&A Veterans Council said. "My issue is to save the park and what's in it."

Dewitt was there in December with around a dozen other people, hoisting monuments and stone out of the water and leveled asphalt.

The city said in order to rebuild more of the park, they need to wait for the weather to warm up. They also applied for $600,000 in FEMA assistance, with a portion of that going toward the park.

"This park is one of the biggest damages we've had," Kevin Gagne with Lewiston Public Works said. 

Gagne said his worry isn't so much flooding this weekend, but having significant rainfall this early in the year with no snowpack, suggesting we could see a drought this summer.

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