We Advocate for Free Flowing Rivers
Hundreds of years ago, before the first European settlers came to Maine, the region looked very different. Towering white pines dominated the landscape; free-flowing rivers roared their way through forested inland reaches and out to the Gulf of Maine. And a dozen species of native sea-run fish migrated up Maine’s rivers every year. Atlantic salmon, American shad, striped bass, alewives, rainbow smelt and blueback herring were all among the fish that moved upriver in abundant numbers from saltwater to freshwater spawning and rearing habitat.
But with the damming of our rivers came huge declines in native fish populations. As early as the eighteenth century, selectmen from the town of Gorham petitioned a court in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to order that fish passage be built at several dams on the Presumpscot River, because the fish on that river were “Intirely Deprived of the use of said River.” Now, early in a new century two hundred years later, we face the prospects of crashing marine fish populations and a looming energy crisis. In this period of increased awareness of ecosystem fragility and the limits of peak oil there is great potential for successful river restoration efforts.
However, with the intense interest in generating new and local forms of power, there is still a remarkable amount of confusion about the actual role of hydropower and the many antiquated and obsolete dams that litter Maine’s waterways. While about 120 dams in Maine are regulated and managed for power generation, an unknown number of dams remain moldering in place, unregistered and serving no purpose, clogging up our rivers and brooks. In some cases their original purpose is unknown, and those who built them are long gone. These obsolete dams create barriers for migratory fish, and greatly reduce the health of our coastal and riverine ecosystems. Their capacity for providing meaningful levels of power is virtually non-existent, but their negative impact on fisheries, water quality, and river health are very real.
We Restore Native Fish to Our Rivers
We work to restore native fish populations to rivers throughout Maine. Healthy runs of sea-run fish symbolize our commitment to restoration of native species as an essential component of vital rivers. Native migratory fish species are ecologically and economically important, they serve as a forage base for fish, mammals and birds, from mink to eagles, from cod to whales. We know from experiences in Maine that rivers have a tremendous capacity for resilience and restoration, and that healthier rivers make for healthier communities.
We Support Grassroots Efforts
We forge alliances, support local river groups, and work for meaningful watershed protection. We’ve Mousam and Kennebunk Rivers Alliance to support restoration work in York County where our efforts have included setting up a volunteer water quality testing program, extensive outreach activities and drafting a updated management plan for the Mousam River watershed. We’ve also been active supporting efforts of the Friends of the Presumpscot River, the Royal River Alliance, and Upstream in Cobbossee. For more than a decade we’ve been advocating for fisheries restoration in the Kennebec as a member of the Kennebec Coalition.