Penobscot River Restoration Project

The Penobscot River Restoration Project is one of the largest, most creative river restoration projects in our nation's history. In an unprecedented collaboration, hydropower company PPL Corporation,  the Penobscot Indian Nation, six conservation groups, and state and federal agencies, are working together to restore 11 species of sea-run fish to the Penobscot River, while maintaining energy production. Successful implementation of the project will revive not only native fisheries but social, cultural and economic traditions of New England's second largest river- the Penobscot.

Highlights of how this project will help Wildlife.

• Removing the two lowermost dams in the Penobscot River and constructing a bypass around a third dam will open up access to nearly 1,000 miles of spawning habitat for 11 species of sea-run fish, including river herring, Atlantic salmon, striped bass, American shad, and sturgeon.

• A return of healthy fisheries will provide new community and economic opportunities, enhanced recreational activities, revival of culture and tradition, and a renewed connection to the river. Stretches of the river that have been blocked for over 200 years will once again flow free. Paddlers will be able to travel from the base of the Milford dam to Penobscot Bay without any major obstacles for the first time in two centuries!

• Project partner PPL Corporation has the opportunity to maintain current energy generation levels by increasing energy generated at six dams. Increasing the head ponds by one foot at three dams, re-powering the Orono Dam, and recycling turbines from the three dams to be decommissioned allows for sustained hydropower generation and increased business certainty for PPL in Maine.

• The return of large migrations of sea-run fish means a healthy forage base for fish-eating birds such as eagles, ospreys, and herons and for predatory fish in the Gulf of Maine such as cod and other commercially important species.

• Migratory songbirds and waterfowl will find more opportunities to feed and rest at newly opened stretches of free-flowing river that will offer more diverse habitat and improved water quality. We all benefit when these native fish and wildlife can once again thrive in our watersheds.

In August, 2008, the Penobscot River Restoration Trust was given the go-ahead to buy three dams from PPL Corporation. Read the press release here.

Statement of Dr. Sally C. Stockwell,

Maine Audubon director of conservation

August 21, 2008

Maine Audubon celebrates this milestone day of the Penobscot River Restoration Project, because it heralds so many days of wide-ranging ecological benefits for the Penobscot River’s wildlife and people. Today’s announcement brings more certainty to realizing the vision of a complex river ecosystem restored to health.

Teeming with nutrients delivered from upstream tributaries and by fish swimming in from downstream ocean waters, the Penobscot River of the future will nourish an abundant cycle of wildlife species.

It will provide ample food for aquatic insects, mussels, and amphibians. In turn, herring, alewives, eels, and sturgeon as well as diving ducks such as the Barrow’s goldeneye will eat insects, fish eggs, worms, and mussels. Fish such as striped bass and Atlantic salmon will feed on the smaller fish. Kingfishers, minks, otters, great blue herons, ospreys, and bald eagles will catch mussels, amphibians, and small and large fish. And ducks and their young can also be taken by weasels, mink, raccoons, and bears.

For anyone who loves to watch wildlife, a restored Penobscot River will put on a great show. That’s crucial for river communities and the economy of Maine, where wildlife watching brings more than $800 million into the state, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The agency also reported last year that Maine has the highest percentage of wildlife watchers of any state—an astonishing 57 percent of the population.