The Kennebec was once the most productive river in Maine, supporting Atlantic salmon runs in the hundreds of thousands, and runs of shad and river herring in the many millions. Today, the future of the Kennebec River is at a critical point. Atlantic salmon are on the brink of extinction, and their recovery depends on further restoration of the Kennebec. Four dams above Waterville, owned by the international energy giant Brookfield Renewable Partners, stand in the way of a free and healthy Kennebec, blocking access to many miles of historic spawning and rearing habitat in the Sandy River. This represents the only place in the US where we can restore unrestricted access for endangered Atlantic salmon to a large river—and to one that contains some of the highest value and most productive salmon habitat in Maine. Federal and state agencies have identified these dams as the key impediment to restoring the Kennebec and have called for significant action: the removal of dams to save endangered Atlantic salmon and other sea-run fish. This year the Maine Legislature will consider a bill intended to prevent removal of these dams. Restoration on the Kennebec/Sandy is critical to meeting Recovery Goals for endangered salmon. Join Jeff Reardon, Maine Brook Trout Project Director for Trout Unlimited, and Sean Mahoney, Executive Vice President and Director of the Conservation Law Foundation in Maine, to learn more.
