Vinalhaven Site
There are two channels located at the site that are available for harnessing power, an eastern and a western channel. Both are granite lined as shown in the picture of the western channel below. The western channel is obstructed by a dam that houses three large cisterns. Currently there is no obstruction in the eastern channel, but during the granite era of Vinalhaven a butterfly dam was used to allow one directional flow into the channel. This butterfyl dam forced all the water though the western channel on the outgoing tide, making the cisterns very efficient. Parts of the actual shaft, gear, and belt system that harnessed the power through the cisterns during the granite era are shown here. A butterfly dam could not be reconstructed now due to the use of the channel by small boats.
The western channel with three cisterns