Newsletter11-03

Presumpscot River News

Publication of the Friends of the Presumpscot River

Volume 12, Issue 1

November, 2003

In This Issue:

At Last, Historic Decisions Made for the Presumpscot River	December Social
Native Sea Run Fish are Returning to the Presumpscot	Board of Directors
Presumpscot River Management Plan Complete	How To Reach Us
"Friends" Receives Donation in Memory of Westbrook Teacher	Membership Information

At Last, Historic Decisions Made for the Presumpscot River

In early October, long awaited decisions were handed down in the relicensing of five consecutive dams on the Presumpscot River. When implemented, these historic decisions will allow access for tens of thousands of native sea run fish, such as American shad, alewives and Atlantic salmon to their native spawning grounds and begin the restoration of the fisheries on the Presumpscot River.

A giant step forward occurred on October 1, 2003 when the final licenses for Dundee, Gambo, Little Falls, Mallison Falls, and Saccarappa dams were issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in Washington, D. C. In a separate proceeding, on October 2nd the state Board of Environmental Protection upheld the Maine DEP’S water quality certification.

Both documents require the building of fish passage on all five dams and direct the dams’ owners, the SAPPI Inc., to improve water flows. Since the beginning of the dam relicensing proceedings in 1996, measures that would improve the river’s flows and restore its fisheries have been opposed by SAPPI.

State and federal agencies embraced the goals championed by Friends of the Presumpscot River (FOPR) and American Rivers (AR). By returning native sea run populations to the Presumpscot, the river will once again be home to fish that were extirpated by the building of nine dams along this 25 -mile river, beginning in with the first dam in 1734. These dams blocked native species from traveling upstream to spawn and caused the once enormous runs of the American shad, alewives, Atlantic salmon, and other sea run to collapse and become nearly nonexistent in the memories of generations living today.

By requiring the owners of all five dams to build fish passage and increase the flows to de-watered segments of the original riverbed, state and federal regulators have agreed that the Presumpscot has the capacity to support several hundred thousand anadromous fish as they return to this once prolific river.

With these new conditions on the federal licenses, the dams on the Presumpscot will be brought up to the environmental standards of the 21st century. And, it is the first time since the original licenses were issued in the late 70’s and 80’s that the owners have had to mitigate the environmental impacts of these dams.

The next step in the restoration effort is to petition for fish passage at Cumberland Mills Dam, the dam directly under the SAPPI mill in Westbrook. In studies done during spring migration (see next story) native fish were discovered, waiting to go upstream beyond Cumberland Mills, now the first dam on the river since the removal of Smelt Hill dam in 2002.

Since Cumberland Mills is not a hydropower dam, it does not fall under the jurisdiction of the FERC and the only process for obtaining fish passage at this dam is through the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIF&W).

Without fish passage at this dam, the state and federal licenses will not take effect and a tremendous opportunity will be lost.

FOPR and AR will petition the MDIF&W to order fish passage at Cumberland Mills. This will trigger provisions in the licenses that call for passage at the next dam, Saccarappa, then on up the river in a phased approach as targeted numbers of fish return.

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Native Sea Run Fish Are Returning to the Presumpscot
Shad

Although not returning to the levels seen by the Native Americans and the early settlers to this area, the fisheries in the Presumpscot are rebounding. American shad and the hardy little alewife have begun to repopulate the lower Presumpscot. They are making their way upriver to locate the best place to lay their eggs and send millions of baby fish back down into the food chain of Casco Bay and the estuary.

To investigate whether sea-run fish would return to the lower river after the removal of Smelt Hill dam, three conservation groups -- Friends of the Presumpscot River, Friends of Casco Bay and the Coastal Conservation Association, with help from the Sebago Chapter of Trout Unlimited -- hired fisheries experts, Normandeau Associates to survey the segment between Presumpscot Falls and the Cumberland Mills dam during spring migration in May and early June.

We know that the spawning instincts of anadromous species such as the American shad, alewife and blueback herring, sea run trout and Atlantic salmon drive them to return to their natal rivers and then migrate as far up in the watershed as possible. This practice ensures more time for their offspring to mature before reaching the ocean and increases the survival rates.

Even though a fairly large population of alewives was known to migrate into Highland Lake by way of Mill Brook when the fish passage at Smelt Hill was operational, we were otherwise uncertain what Normandeau would find.

What they did find was very promising. In addition to alewife migrating into Highland Lake, Normandeau caught alewives and shad -- small numbers, but present nonetheless and ready to spawn -- that had moved upstream to habitat near the impassable Cumberland Mills dam, at the Sappi paper mill in Westbrook.

Although barred from reaching their native spawning waters in the Presumpscot for over two centuries by dams with no fish passage, it took no more than the first spring migratory season for American shad, ripe with eggs, and herring to reappear in the now free-flowing first seven miles of the river.

The shad are coming back to use the river. There is still a remnant population of shad trying to migrate further upstream into the watershed. When fish passage was operational at Smelt Hill dam, approximately 30 shad were counted passing at the fish ladder.

This remnant population may be representative of one hundred - two hundred fish still calling the Presumpscot home. The survey also documented that alewives are using the mainstem of the river above the entrance to Mill Brook to spawn, as well as migrating to Highland Lake.

FMI, contact Dusti Faucher @ 892-8381, Joe Payne at 799-8574 or Pat Keliher @ 846-1015.

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Presumpscot River Management Plan Complete

After nearly three years of work, the Presumpscot River Management Plan is complete. The stakeholder group includes FOPR, the Coastal Conservation Association, and the Greater Portland Council of Governments, Hannaford, and Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission, ME. DEP, MEDIF&W, MEDMR, USDA-natural Resources Conservation Service, Portland Trails Presumpscot River Watch, US EPA, US Fish and Wildlife Service and SAPPI Fine Paper.

This group, brought together by the Casco Bay Estuary Project gathered data and made recommendations to preserve open space and the riparian corridor, reduce nonpoint source pollution and restore native fisheries. Although all participants do not endorse all parts of the plan, each group contributed significant effort to putting the plan together.

A public hearing on the draft plan was held on May 9, 2003 at the Portland Water District’s Jeff Nixon Training Center. Nearly fifty people attended and the results of the public input were compiled into the appendices of the plan. FOPR was represented by three members at the majority of the meetings, Will Plumley, Sandy Cort and Dusti Faucher. We are pleased to see that the fisheries recommendations are based on the sound science and advocate for dam removal as the best means to restore the native fisheries and habitat.

The first recommendation of the Steering Committee was to form a council to oversee the implementation of the Presumpscot River Management Plan. Two subsequent meetings have been held to discuss the formation of the Presumpscot River Council. To view the report, either in its short or long form, go to www.cascobay.usm.maine.edu or call Casco Bay Estuary Project @ 780-4820.

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“Friends” Receives Donation in Memory of Westbrook Teacher

In June of 2003, Dusti Faucher gave a presentation to the 7th and 8th grade classes at the Wescott Junior High in Westbrook. While this is not the first time these students learned about the Presumpscot and FOPR’s dam relicensing project, this visit was very special and inspiring.

The 7th and 8th grade classes, along with their teachers, presented a check to Friends of the Presumpscot River for $450 in memory of one of their teachers, John Farrell, who passed away suddenly this year. To honor the special connection Mr. Farrell felt for the river and the work he put into teaching the students, the other teachers and students wanted to find a way to continue to support FOPR’s river restoration project. The contribution was given in Mr. Farrell’s memory. They raised the money by collecting bottles and cans in the lunchroom and soliciting donations. We sincerely appreciate all the hard work of the teachers, the students and the parents who participated and are grateful for their enthusiasm. Mr. Farrell wanted his students to learn about all aspects of the river’s ecology, history and potential. He invited FOPR to visit his classes to tell students about what we have learned and hope to accomplish.

Dusti worked with Mr. Farrell for two years as part of his project about the Presumpscot. The Eighth grade class also participated in a river clean up with the Raft Maine Association during National River Clean Up Week in May 2003.

FOPR received an additional donation of $65 later in the month. We are looking forward to continuing our relationship with the Wescott Junior High students and their teachers as we work to restore the Presumpscot.
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December Social

The annual December Social was held on December 7, 2003 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the Windham/Gorham Rod and Gun Club.

This is a potluck dinner, held each year in conjunction with other local conservation organizations such as Presumpscot River Watch, Gorham Trails and Gorham/Sebago Land Trust. Attendees bring a dish and can catch up on the latest happenings with other local groups. FMI call Dusti @ 892-8381 or Sandy @ 892-5224.

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Board of Directors Information and Meeting Schedule for 2003

How to reach us

Membership and Donations