The Penobscot Indian Nation is working with several other groups to make three Maine dams friendlier to fish passage.
The Penobscots identified Mill Brook Dam in Searsport, Pitcher Pond Dam in Lincolnville and Chickawaukie Pond Outlet in Rockland as barriers to the migration of Atlantic salmon, alewives, American eels and brook trout to their native spawning grounds, according to Carter Cates, fisheries program outreach coordinator for the Penobscot Nation.
They are the latest in a long line of dams, including recently on the Kennebec River, that have either been removed or modified to allow migratory species of fish access to their native grounds.
The Penobscots and their state, federal and local partners have three years to complete the multimillion-dollar project. The initial stage is done — a survey of the three dams by Acadia Civil Works — but the company’s analysis has not been released yet. What that says will determine the next steps, Cates said.
Individual plans will be made for each dam, she said. The costs will depend on what has to be done at each site, but the project has a specific total grant amount through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, a federal grant that is meant to improve habitats, address climate resilience and restore aquatic ecosystems.
Grant details, including the amount, were not available Wednesday afternoon, but Cates said it would be millions of dollars. At the moment, the money is not affected by cuts in Washington, D.C., she said.
Construction likely won’t begin until next year, she said.
The owners of the three dams volunteered them for fish passage restoration. The Searsport dam is privately owned by Steve and Astrid Tanguay. The Lincolnville dam is owned by the Pitcher Pond Lake Association, and the Chickawaukie Pond Outlet dam is owned by the city of Rockland.
The Penobscot Indian Nation’s partners include NOAA Fisheries, Maine Sea Grant, Acadia Civil Works, the towns of Searsport, Lincolnville and Rockland, as well as local community members, Cates said.
“Once completed, these restoration efforts will reconnect vital waterways, helping to restore ecological balance and clean water, while enhancing recreational opportunities and supporting the long-term sustainability of Maine’s fisheries,” according to a press release from the Penobscot Nation.
