Composed by: Atlantic Salmon Federation personnel
As soon as plentiful throughout the northeastern United States, Atlantic salmon now continue simply a couple of rivers in Maine. Although the types is seriously threatened, the Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) has actually made terrific strides to bring back important environment, developing genuine expect the future.
Salmon require access to the prime spawning premises in the headwaters of Maine rivers like the Penobscot and Kennebec. Twenty years back, almost 90% of that environment was unattainable– obstructed by dams and other blockages.
With a mix of figured out advocacy and boots-on-the-ground preservation work, ASF and its partners have actually gotten rid of blockages both big and little. Teaming up with prepared dam owners and regional neighborhoods, ASF’s Maine Headwaters Task has actually gotten rid of dams, built fishways, and changed small culverts, all while attending to human requirements by developing parks, enhancing gain access to, and boosting public security.
To date ASF has actually finished over 60 tasks, reconnecting more than 1,200 river miles and upwards of 35,000 acres of lake and pond environment to the Gulf of Maine.
Where stagnant impoundments when choked life, free-flowing rivers now support recuperating communities. Maine’s 12 types of sea-run fish are all rebounding, none more drastically than river herring, keystone types that consist of American shad, blueback herring, and alewife. Spring runs have actually risen to go beyond 6 million fish on the Penobscot and Kennebec rivers.
And there’s no strategy to decrease. Among lots of tasks on the go is the elimination of the Chesterville Dam on a tributary to the Kennebec River in summertime 2025. The job will bring back access to 29 stream miles of coldwater environment and to 3 ponds that traditionally supported alewives.
Bring back freshwater connection has actually increased biodiversity, abundance, along with environment durability– genuine outcomes for wild salmon and their communities.
Check Out the Atlantic Salmon Federation website to end up being a member of the neighborhood, and assistance ASF’s dam eliminations and environment repair tasks throughout The United States and Canada.
