The Maine Council has a long history of working to safeguard the state's Atlantic salmon runs. One vitally important program is the Penobscot River Restoration Project, which represents the last, best chance to restore a self-sustaining population of wild Atlantic salmon in the United States. It is a joint initiative of ASF and several other conservation partners along with the hydro producer PPL, plus the Federal, State and Penobscot Indian Nation governments to remove two major dams, decommission and bypass a third dam, improve fish passage at several other dams, maintain important hydropower generation, and restore the Penobscot's natural connections with the sea - and perhaps increasing the salmon population 10-fold.

GRAPH OF SALMON RETURNS TO THE PENOBSCOT RIVER 

NUMBERS OF RETURNING SALMON TO THE PENOBSCOT (.PDF)

Beyond this, the Council is working to have unnecessary small dams removed, running the Fish Friends program in more than 100 Maine schools, and advocating for and solving many other river and fisheries issues.

Another major project is working to restore those rivers listed as having endangered salmon populations. including Cove Brook (off the lower Penobscot) and the Sheepscot, Ducktrap, Pleasant, Narraguagus, Machias, East Machias and Dennys Rivers.

The Maine Council fully supported the RIVERBOND Initiative that passed on the November 2007 ballot. For a basic "mailer" with the major points supporting it, click here