Poised to become largest alewife run in the nation NRCM news release Baileyville, Maine – This week marks a big leap in the lives of river herring of the St. Croix River. For the first time in 22 years, this year alewives will be passing the Grand Falls Dam to return to spawn in high-quality Read More
Restoring Alewives in Maine Rivers
Throughout our history, NRCM has worked to support healthy fish populations returning to Maine’s rivers, and we’ve had big victories. With removal of the Edwards Dam in 1999 and the Fort Halifax Dam in 2008, more than two million alewives (river herring) now return to the Kennebec River each spring. The Penobscot River Restoration Project, completed in 2016, is also providing tremendous benefits for alewives and the full range of fish and wildlife in the Penobscot River and throughout the Gulf of Maine.
Fishway to the Presumpscot Unveiled
Leslie Briders, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story WESTBROOK — The first of several fish passageways planned for the Presumpscot River officially opened Wednesday, just in time for alewives and other species to make migratory runs that could begin any day. Sappi Fine Paper was required by the state to build the fishway at Read More
LePage Allows Alewives Bill to Become Law
by Dennis Hoey, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story Eighteen years ago, the Legislature approved a blockade that prevented alewives from running up the St. Croix River. In a historic decision that largely went unnoticed, that blockade will be lifted in a few days after Gov. Paul LePage opted not to veto LD 72. Read More
Historic Fish Runs to be Restored on International Boundary River
The Chattanoogan news story After nearly 20 years of exile from their native waters, alewives will once again migrate up the St. Croix River watershed. The Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) is pleased that Bill LD 72 became law on Monday, requiring state officials to remove barriers to fish passage at Grand Falls Dam. The law comes Read More
New Maine Law Will Let Alewives Return to the St. Croix River
Returning native river herring to the river may create largest run in the nation, over time NRCM Press Release Augusta, Maine — Today, is a big day in the lives of river herring of the St. Croix River, as a bill became law that will finally allow alewives to return to spawn in upstream lakes Read More
Alewives Win Full Passage to St. Croix River Watershed without LePage’s Signature
by Christopher Cousins Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — A bill that opens the entire St. Croix watershed to sea-run alewives for the first time in nearly three decades went into law Tuesday without the signature of Gov. Paul LePage. The bill, LD 72, An Act to Open the St. Croix River to Read More
Maine Lawmakers Go with Alewives’ Flow
Bangor Daily News editorial Finally, after years of Maine politicians ignoring the science that supports the benefits of alewives returning to the upper reaches of the St. Croix River, they have acted on that scientific knowledge. On Wednesday, the Maine Legislature passed LD 72, a bill sponsored by Rep. Madonna Soctomah of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, Read More
Alewives on the St. Croix: A “Mistake” Fixed
Five years later, the policy of blocking alewives was looking increasingly anachronistic. by Douglas Rooks Working Waterfront news story AUGUSTA — By May 1, alewives could have a clear path up the St. Croix River drainage for the first time in 18 years. After a contentious hearing March 25 which lasted almost four hours, the Read More
St. Croix Alewives Measure Clears Key Maine Panel
by Colin Woodard, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — A key legislative committee has endorsed a measure that would open most of the St. Croix River to alewives by the end of this month. The emergency legislation, LD 72, received unanimous approval from the legislators at Monday morning’s vote. It needs final Read More
