“Crunch, crunch, crunch.” The sound of my snowshoes mark our progress slowly down the flowage in northern Maine. Our group of five NRCM members, including our treasurer, Chris Bond (pictured, on the right), is embarking on our annual winter camping trip along this quiet waterway. Traditional camping with toboggans, snowshoes, canvas tents, and portable wood stoves Read More
Penobscot River Restoration
The Natural Resources Council of Maine is proud to be a founding member of the Penobscot River Restoration Project and the Penobscot River Restoration Trust. The Trust worked for more than a decade to restore magnificent runs of Atlantic salmon, shad, and other sea-run fish to the Penobscot River, the largest river in Maine. The Trust removed two dams that have blocked fish migrations for more than a century—the Great Works Dam and the Veazie Dam, and constructed an innovative, river-like bypass around the third dam on the river at Howland. Fish are using this bypass to access nearly 2,000 miles of historic habitat. The Penobscot River has worked hard for Maine people for hundreds of years. Now we need to take care of the river. NRCM’s membership in the Penobscot River Restoration Trust is one more example of our commitment to protecting and restoring Maine’s environment, now and for future generations.
Shiny Patches in Maine’s Streambeds are Bright Sign for Salmon
by Murray Carpenter New York Times news story WASHINGTON COUNTY, Me. – Ernie Atkinson waded up Old Stream on a warm fall afternoon, peering through polarized sunglasses to scan the streambed. Before long, he pointed out a place where the bottom looked different. “You can see how the gravel is a lot cleaner right here–it Read More
Removing Dams in Maine
by Bobby Bascomb Living on Earth story An unusual collaboration has led to a deal that will remove two dams on the largest river in Maine. As Living on Earth’s Bobby Bascomb reports, the Penobscot River dam removals will not only benefit native fish, but also the hydroelectric utility. GELLERMAN: Over the past decade, more Read More
Orono, Stillwater Dam Upgrades to Fill Energy Gap Left by Removal of Other Dams
By Nick McCrea, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story Two dams have received approval to boost their energy capacity and fill the gap left when three other Penobscot River dams are demolished or decommissioned over the next two to three years. The Department of Environmental Protection cleared Black Bear Hydro Partners LLC, the company Read More
Historic River Reclamation Impacts All of New England
Dave Sartwell Gloucester Times news story The Penobscot River in Maine is on the verge of an historic reclamation. The Lower Penobscot River Restoration Project has cleared what at first seemed insurmountable opposition to removing dams and restoring the natural flow of the river. Although the implementation will take several years, all of the agreements Read More
Restoring the Penobscot
Maine is getting a chance to prove it’s possible to make clean energy and restore sea-run fish access to rivers. By Tom Bell, State House Writer Maine Sunday Telegram news story GREENBUSH – Ian Kiraly gently nudges the bow of an alien-like vessel along the banks of the Penobscot River. The electro boat, with its Read More
Salmon’s Return Means Much to Tribe
By Tom Bell, State House Writer Maine Sunday Telegram news story INDIAN ISLAND – In 1835, when the new dam at Veazie was closed in the winter, blocking all fish passage, the Penobscot Indians protested that the dam would destroy the annual runs of salmon and other sea-run fish. Their complaints went unheeded, even when Read More
Landmark Purchase of Dams Opens New Chapter for Penobscot River Fisheries
Penobscot River Restoration Trust purchases three dams from PPL Corp. News release Old Town, ME: A new chapter begins for Maine’s Penobscot River with the Penobscot River Restoration Trust taking ownership of the Veazie, Great Works, and Howland Dams. This $24 million purchase from PPL is a monumental accomplishment for the historic Penobscot River Restoration Read More
Penobscot River Dam Removal, Fish Restoration Project Approved
by Kevin Miller Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — State environmental regulators on Wednesday approved the final of three permits sought as part of a historic dam removal and fish habitat restoration project on the Penobscot River. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection signed off on the Penobscot River Restoration Trust’s proposal to Read More