by Glenn Adams, Associated Press Forbes.com news story AUGUSTA, Maine — A backhoe took a bite out of the Edwards Dam 10 years ago, releasing the waters of the Kennebec River that had been held back for more than a century and a half. Months after that first torrent gushed through from upstream, the entire Read More
Edwards Dam and Kennebec Restoration
For more than a decade, NRCM and the Kennebec Coalition worked to open up the Kennebec River to sea-run fish past the Edwards Dam in Augusta. In a precedent-setting action, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) decided that the ecological value of a free-flowing river was greater than the economic value of a dam. The Edwards Dam was removed on July 1, 1999.
Today, millions of alewives swim from the Atlantic Ocean up the Kennebec every spring in what is perhaps the largest alewife run on the eastern seaboard.
A Decade without a Dam Breathes Life in to a Maine River
by Beth Daley, Globe staff Boston Globe news story Ten years ago today, a demolition crew in Augusta, Maine punched a hole through a 160-year-old dam on the Kennebec River and made history. It was the first time that the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ruled that the ecological value of a free-flowing river was Read More
Marking a Rebirth
by Keith Edwards, staff writer Kennebec Journal news story AUGUSTA — Sidney resident George Viles said he felt frustrated and anxious 10 years ago that the Edwards Dam was being removed. But on his first fishing trip after the Kennebec River ran free, he landed three striped bass, and a large smallmouth, in 20 minutes. Read More
10th Anniversary of Removal of Edwards Dam on the Kennebec
Read 10th anniversary press release by NRCM and its Kennebec Coalition partners Remarks by NRCM Executive Director Brownie Carson on 10th anniversary of Edwards Dam removal Brief history timeline of Edwards Dam Environmental, economic, and recreational benefits of removal of the Edwards Dam Whatsthedampoint-Bates1-6-09 – article featuring NRCM board member Lynne Lewis, from Bates College Bates Magazine, January, 2009. Read More
Edwards Dam Gone 10 Years Today
Ten years ago the Edwards Dam in Augusta, Maine, was removed from the Kennebec River and the river has totally come alive. The coalition of groups that worked on this project for more than a decade knew that the benefits would be enormous, and they have been. The Edwards Dam had blocked the river since Read More
Another Reason to Celebrate: 10 Years of a Free-flowing Kennebec
I just attended my 20th high school reunion this past weekend. 20 years ago, I was graduating from high school. That is hard to believe. What is harder to believe is that that was around the time that NRCM and its partners in the Kennebec Coalition started the decade of hard work to remove the Edwards Read More
Kennebec River Reborn 10 Years After Dam Removal
People and wildlife have benefited from river’s recovery NRCM news release Augusta, ME – State, federal and local officials and conservation leaders gathered on the bank of the Kennebec River today to celebrate one of our nation’s most significant and successful river restoration projects. Ten years ago, the 160-year-old Edwards Dam was removed to restore Read More
Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Removing the Edwards Dam
Remarks by NRCM Executive Director Brownie Carson Good morning and welcome to the 10th anniversary celebration of the removal of the Edwards Dam. Ten years ago, many of us who are here today stood on the opposite bank of the Kennebec to witness the beginning of a new chapter for this great river. On that Read More
Ten Years After Dam Removal Kennebec River Fish are Jumping Back
by Susan Sharon Maine Public Radio news story For centuries, dams that harnessed water power fueled factories around the Northeast. But the walled barriers prevented migrating fish from reaching their native spawning grounds. Water quality and entire ecosystems changed. Think about a dam on a river you know. Imagine what would happen if that structure Read More
