On Saturday, Oct. 18 the organizations that founded the Penobscot River Restoration Trust will be speaking about their conservation efforts to take down dams and restore fish passages on a specialty cruise from Bar Harbor to Bangor that also features 10 lighthouses and fall foliage.
The tour departs Harbor Place in Bar Harbor at 8:30 a.m. and will take place on the 112-foot catamaran Friendship V with a return at 6 p.m. The tour will have a distinct twist, as upon arriving in Bangor passengers will have the option to go ashore along the waterfront for lunch at boutique food trucks or local restaurants.
The founding organizations of the Penobscot River Restoration Trust include the Penobscot Nation, American Rivers, Atlantic Salmon Federation, Maine Audubon, Natural Resources Council of Maine, The Nature Conservancy and Trout Unlimited. During the tour guests will hear from members of the Trust and learn about the history of our conservation efforts and those still underway to restore the Penobscot, other Maine rivers, and anadromous fish.
Greg Ponte, from Trout Unlimited stated, “This was one of the most important sea run fish habitat restoration projects in our nation’s history as we purchased and removed the Great Works Dam during 2012, the Veazie Dam during 2013 and built a stream like bypass channel around the Howland Dam on the Piscataquis River during 2015. The 2025 Penobscot River sea run fish count for alewives was nearly 6 million alewives, 8,000+ Shad and 600+ Atlantic salmon at the Milford Dam fish lift.”
“Experience on the Penobscot and Kennebec Rivers has shown the world that when you restore the health of rivers by removing unnecessary dams we restore the health of an entire ecosystem, including sea-run fish, birds, and other wildlife,” said Luke Frankel, staff scientist and woods, Waters & Wildlife director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine. “The collaborative restoration of the Penobscot, in close partnership with the Penobscot Nation who has deep cultural and historical ties to the river, is a great example of Mainers coming together to protect the places they love.”
Charles Loring, the director of Natural Resources for the Penobscot Nation stated, “The Penobscot River has sustained our people since time immemorial. Our responsibility, as it always has been, is to care for her so that she can continue to provide for future generations.”
Along the route guests will be able to photograph fall foliage, wildlife, ten coastal lighthouses, Fort Knox, the Deer Isle Bridge and the Penobscot Narrows Bridge. Professional Maine photographer Michael Leonard from Boothbay Harbor will be onboard to coach photographers in taking excellent photographs. He will offer a free slide show talk and program at the YWCA in Bar Harbor from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17 titled, “Make Your Best Shot”.
Bob Trapani Jr., executive director of the American Lighthouse Foundation and his son Dominic, both accomplished lighthouse authors, will be onboard to describe the history of 10 area lighthouses. The boat will stop at each light for 8 to 10 minutes to take photos and learn about times gone past and efforts today to preserve Bear Island, Bass Harbor, Blue Hill Bay, Pumpkin Island, Dyce Head, Fort Point, Eagle Island, Deer Island Thoroughfare, Burnt Coat and Great Duck lights.
Zack Klyver, a naturalist for Bar Harbor Whale Watch company will host the tour and provide running narration throughout the tour identifying and describing wildlife and bird species and human and natural history. “Historically 75,000 to 100,000 Atlantic Salmon returned to the Penobscot River annually and now scientists see only a fraction of those salmon entering a watershed of 8,000 square miles. While we celebrate what has been accomplished we support these amazing organizations and the Penobscot people in their efforts to continue to restore our historic fish runs,” stated Klyver.
To purchase tickets to join the river cruise, guests can call Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co at 207-288-2386 or purchase tickets online. Additionally, if you are an active member or become a member of one of the organizations of the Penobscot River Restoration Trust, you can receive a 25% discount on the purchase of the river tour tickets for you, family and friends.
