*In-ter-vale n. [a blending of INTERVAL + VALE] [Americanism, Chiefly New England] low, flat land between hills or along a river. Webster’s New World Dictionary PROTECTING RIVERS AND WILD ATLANTIC SALMON SINCE 1982

Downeast Salmon Federation P.O. Box 201 Columbia Falls, 04623 Intervale D o w n e a s t S a l m o n F e d e r a t i o n

Spring 2019 Documenting the Success of MEANDERS “Choosing to save a river is the Peter Gray Parr Project more often an act of passion than of careful calculation. You make the choice because the river has touched your life in an intimate and irreversible way, because you are unwilling to accept its loss."

— David Bolling Photo credit: Keith Williams

Help DSF Achieve Thank You to Our ince 2012, over 1 million fall Atlantic Salmon migrate erratic environmental Major Business parr (juvenile Atlantic Salmon) from the rivers to the sea) conditions. In 2018, the Shave been raised in the Peter populations resulting from the estimated total production Significant Landmarks Partners Gray Hatchery and released into PGPP are 4 times higher than was 0.73 smolt per unit of e have been very busy at DSF this events over the last year. There are the East . During smolt populations generated habitat, increasing from Wpast winter! From our community plans to add several more events this time period, the watershed from other stocking methods; 0.39 at the start of the PGPP; outreach events to our wild Atlantic throughout 2019. You can see experienced record-setting heat, • Age distribution of the PGPP • The neighboring Narraguagus Salmon hatcheries, we are constantly our upcoming schedule at www. drought, cold, precipitation, smolt population is more River produces about 0.25 making strides to fulfill DSF's mission mainesalmonrivers.com/events. flooding, and the rapid warming equivalent to what we see smolt per unit—one-third the to conserve sea-run fish and their These workshops are made of the . Despite in wild salmon populations number of smolt produced habitats; restore a viable recreational possible by the generous support these extreme events, the than it is with other methods; per unit by the PGPP in salmon fishery; and protect important of the Belvedere Traditional river, scenic, recreational, and Handcrafts Fund through the results of DSF’s experimental • Since the start of the PGPP, the ; ecological resources in eastern Maine. Maine Community Foundation. Peter Gray Parr Project (PGPP) there has an upward trend have been very encouraging: in the numbers of smolt • DSF Executive Director, Dwayne • In January, our Peter Gray Continued on page 2 Shaw, and Board President, George Hatchery received 370,000 eyed • The watershed-wide large parr migrating to sea, despite Leinbaugh, recently met with staff Atlantic Salmon eggs, which density—that is, the number of members from both of Maine's will be reared to fall parr and 2 to 3 year-old fish found per US Senate offices to discuss the stocked in the East Machias River. unit of habitat—is more than Small Property, Big Impact state of Atlantic Salmon restoration • Our Pleasant River Hatchery double the density seen using in Maine. They enjoyed getting received 144,000 eyed other methods of stocking; SF has been engaged for upwards of 25 years in dis- a tour of both our Pleasant River Atlantic Salmon eggs. • The PGPP produced the Dcussions regarding the future of the West Branch Hatchery in Columbia Falls and If you believe in a future of healthy highest ever large parr of the Pleasant River in Addison and Columbia. Peter Gray Hatchery in East Machias. rivers, abundant fisheries, and For more information on how density, measured over each Tidal barriers (a dike and self-closing gates) prohibit adequate • DSF partnered with Maine Outdoor vibrant communities, consider your business can become a DSF fish passage and normal tidal hydrology. This structure was built School to provide over a dozen fly decade, since electrofishing giving to DSF. We rely on Business Partner, please contact over 70 years ago to encourage agriculture within the floodplain salt tying clinics throughout Washington donations from our members. began in the mid-1970s. [email protected] The next highest decadal marshes. Recently, the ME DOT, Army Corp of Engineers and several and Hancock counties. More than We appreciate your support! other agencies have announced their intentions for an extensive 210 people have participated in these THANK YOU! median was during the 1970s; • Smolt (the life stage when Continued on page 2 207.483.4336 www.mainesalmonrivers.org PO Box 201, Columbia Falls, Maine 04623 Small Property, Spawning Tomcod return to Big Impact restored Habitat in

where a house had been built on see Smelt, Sea-Run Brook Trout, or the first time in more than the kids pulled a few of the first came under the ice into the cove. a tiny extension of the fill used Tomcod and maybe even salmon half a century, Tomcod have stones from the top of the dam. They swam over the old dam site to build the dike. This “postage in this river system once again. Freturned to spawn in Smelt Brook DSF Habitat Restoration and for the first time in 50 years stamp” parcel is surrounded by in Sullivan! Last year DSF removed Project Manager, Shri Verrill they found gravel at the head of wetlands. When the house that the 50 year old dam that kept fish facilitated permitting, drew up a tide where they laid their eggs. had been grandfathered there out of the stream and nutrients restoration plan and supervised “I’m really, really thrilled on the dike was destroyed by fire from flowing into Smelt Cove the dam removal and salt marsh with what’s going on down there. a few years ago, DSF approached at the head of Frenchman Bay. restoration project in September. Glad to hear the Tomcod are being the owners to suggest that the As Smelt Brook continued to spotted. This is a good thing. I’m best use for the property was as flow despite the mouth of the an absolute supporter!" Said Rob a part of the restoration of the Documenting stream being cut off from Smelt Eaton, Sullivan Town Manager watershed and that we would Cove, years of sediment and "I love to see the restoration be interested in buying the land. nutrients were impounded of natural passage. Thanks to Continued from page 1 The owners – who were at one the Success of upstream of the dam. “There was common sense, a scientific time opposed to restoration the Peter Gray habitat restoration outcome. of the marshes and river, had about two feet of muck at the approach and positive The DOT structures are changed their position after bottom of the pond,” says Verrill. results we are winning small Parr Project “We found a few Tomcod victories for our planet." in very serious disrepair and learning of some of the great Continued from page 1 in jeopardy of catastrophic improvements that would come downstream of the dam last Ciccotelli brought failure. To lay the groundwork • The average smolt to adult year and in the past few photographer and author for restoration, DSF and our return rate (the number of years we documented a few Keith Williams of Freshwater fisheries and land trust partners smolts that exit the river smelt eggs on the face of the Journeys to document fish have been involved in our compared to the number dam," noted DSF Fisheries runs in streams Downeast and own restoration and outreach of adult fish that return to Biologist, Brett Ciccotelli. Keith caught this photo of efforts in this watershed. Due spawn) of PGPP reared fish "This year It’s great to find Microgadus Tomcod. to its size (nearly 350 acres) is higher than the return rate that Tomcod found their way the West Branch is considered for naturally reared salmon upstream past where the Photo credit: Bangor Daily News one of the most important salt on the dam used to be and are now Once the excavator, marsh restoration opportunities and smolt stocked salmon spawning again. We hope to find dump truck, and bulldozer came in the entire Gulf of Maine. on the . smelt here in the spring too!” and took the dam out, Smelt Our work here has led to a In other words, DSF’s Around New Year's 2018 Brook ran freely into Smelt number of successes. Recently, Peter Gray Parr Project is DSF purchased the property Cove once more. Fall rain and DSF acquired what is technically with natural salt marshes and producing more juvenile Atlantic surrounding Smelt Brook with several months of high tides a “non-conforming property” Salmon in the East Machias River fisheries. Late last year, DSF was help from the Maine Natural helped the stream cut through Photo credit: Keith Williams than there has been seen in the able to acquire the property with Resource Conservation Program the deposited sediment and The fish bring joy to those of river in the last five decades assistance from Maine Coast and other groups and individuals exposed gravel bars as far as 150 us who work to make way for their and the project is producing Heritage Trust and with funds who chipped in time and funds. In feet upstream from the old dam. passage. We’re glad you’re back! raised through our membership. returning adults at a much higher rate than neighboring rivers! the spring, classes from Sumner Late at night in the dark This spring we expect to Removal of the tide High School came down to survey and cold of December--and document returning Smelt to gates in this location will have Your help goes a long the pond for Brook Trout--with fly likely other evenings over the their namesake brook and cove. immediate positive effects on the way, please continue to support rods and barb-less hooks--and last few days of the year--Tomcod ecosystem and we fully expect to the Peter Gray Parr Project. DSF Partners with University of Maine at River Updates Machias DSF Awarded Highest

Photo credit: University of Maine at Machias Ranking he University of Maine natural resources, and ith the recent growth of DSF, Branch Lake Stream kids to the joys of ice fishing. Tat Machias (UMM) is the 5. Educating the next Wand the nonprofit sector as We are working in partnership Dateline: April 20, 1898 university system’s only coastal generation of leaders. a whole, it has become necessary with the City of Ellsworth on campus, and it is critical to the to provide information about the final leg of fundraising to regional economy. It is also The framework of the our financial health to donors, remove an abandoned dam on a close neighbor to DSF—just partnership that the MOU grant makers, foundations, and the outlet of Branch Lake Stream. 4 miles down the road—and provides will support us in government agencies. It is clear This 150-foot-long, 6-foot- “Unless fishways are provided we share many of the same accomplishing these goals. that our donors require and, high concrete structure has this year, all the fish planted goals and interests at many For example, DSF is more importantly, deserve full blocked Atlantic Salmon, Brook this year will be lost, and the levels. Given that DSF has building a laboratory in our East financial disclosure and DSF is Trout, and Blueback Herring experiment of trying to restock successfully collaborated on Machias facility. The laboratory committed to providing just that. from over 6-miles of habitat the Union river will come to various projects with UMM from will be available to DSF staff, In 2018 DSF embarked in the Union River watershed naught. The river is a natural for most of the last century. resort for salmon, and though day one, it was clear we could UMM professors, and students on this process of transparency Cousins waiting for the big one! expand our impact if we further for classes as well as research and has earned Guidestar’s, it is many years since they were formalized our relationship. projects. The lab will help highest ranking seal: Platinum able to get up the river, they are The designs for fish passage still seen occasionally at the foot So, several years ago, train future conservationists, Seal of Transparency. Itself on the Orange River at our DSF and UMM began talking scientists and stewards. It will a nonprofit, Guidestar’s of the lower dam trying to get dam in Whiting have been up. Mr. Race (Superintendent E. about working together more increase opportunities available mission is to “revolutionize completed. Now, it's time to closely. These talks bore fruit to UMM’s students since UMM philanthropy by providing E. Race of Green Lake Hatchery) start considering our options. believes the Union river could this year as DSF & UMM signed a doesn’t have a similar facility. information that advances We have style choices to make— in a few years be made the Memorandum of Understanding It will also boost UMM’s ability transparency, enables users denil, nature-like, or steep pass? best salmon river in Maine.” (MOU) that provides a to market itself to prospective to make better decisions, and Materials to pick—concrete, And they say some things framework in which the two students. The lab might even encourages charitable giving.” wood, or stone? Another never change. On the Union organizations can jointly share help us to discover something Guidestar is considered consideration is potential ideas River, we think it's time they did. facilities and other resources to we didn’t previously know the backbone of the nonprofit Support from the Union for dam repair or possibly A century and a quarter later— collaborate on various projects. about Maine’s fish and waters. sector providing donors, grant Salmon Association, US Fish and removal. We are committed there are still no fishways over the The MOU opens up makers, foundations, and Wildlife Service, Maine Outdoor to a solution that works for fish two big dams on the Union River. Both organizations have a number many possibilities. Now the government agencies with Heritage Fund, and the City of and people and are working The Maine DEP can lead the way of shared goals, including: real work of making those updated and complete financial Ellsworth has laid the groundwork closely with the town of Whiting and require fish passage at both possibilities a reality begins. and performance information for dam removal this summer. to guarantee that whatever is dams and a new management 1. Increasing our knowledge Although already signed so that they can make informed decided has a positive impact plan for Graham Lake that and understanding of eastern and “enacted,” DSF and UMM decisions about which Chalk Pond on community, fire protection improves water quality as part Maine’s aquatic resources; will have a celebratory signing— organizations they support. On a Saturday afternoon in services, and natural resources. of the on-going relicensing 2. Making UMM more with fanfare and the press— early February, we were joined of the Union River dams. competitive in attracting sometime this May. If you’d like by nearly 80 anglers out on and retaining students; to be part of this event, check 28 inches of ice at our Chalk Tell DEP to make it happen: 3. Restoring regional fisheries; back in with us via Facebook Pond Preserve in Beddington. Contact DEP Commissioner 4. Building economic or our website in late April. The cub scouts plowed out Reid ([email protected] 207- development strategies to the parking lot and helped 287-2811) and let him know sustainably manage Maine’s introduce a new generation of the Union’s time has come. Project Spotlight: Utilizing Sonar Schoppee Marsh Ray Carbone - Board Member Technology in Machias Extraordinaire River Herring Research

or several years, DSF has helped of data collected by using high Upcoming project: ay Carbone has been an with new cherry display cabinets. is available to community Fspearhead a collaborative resolution sonar in cooperation Schoppee Marsh is a salt outstanding member of The cabinets were made by and regional groups that effort to re-establish a commercial with Bowdoin College, Manomet marsh restoration project Rthe DSF Board of Directors for Ray who donated both his need a meeting space. river herring fishery in Pembroke and Downeast Fisheries with hands-on-science for over 15 years! He joined the time and artistry to craft them. DSF is planning a grand on the . In Partnership. Sonar can locate Maine’s Citizen Scientists. board to “make a difference” Contributions for the materials opening and dedication of the order for the harvest to resume, fish and differentiate between Project Summary: to Downeast conservation were made by family and friends future museum and meeting we need to know several key species underwater (think fancy In order to sustain fisheries for and his contributions span of the late Paul Hermann, a space in honor of Paul Hermann factors about the river herring fish-finder). We plan to estimate future generations in Downeast years of volunteer service to former board member and later this year. Contributions population to ensure that the the overall abundance of Maine, a number of community Mother Nature. Ray’s generous longtime advocate for Atlantic for the completion of this fish are harvested in a way juveniles migrating downstream organizations will collaborate gifts of time, effort, and salmon. The conference room project are most welcome. sustainable. DSF, Maine Sea to the ocean and see if we in the restoration of Schoppee artistic genius have made a will be named in Paul’s honor. Thanks again, Ray, for Grant, Town of Pembroke, Sipayik can identify any patterns in Marsh. A critical part of the project tremendous contribution to DSF. The next enhancement helping to make it happen! Environmental Department, outmigration during the fall. will be to conduct targeted Of late, Ray has semi- to the conference room is a Maine DMR and others are This research informs education, stewardship, and retired and turned his attention to conference table. Ray will bring collaborating to gather this data. restoration and management of community outreach focused on helping DSF by bringing beauty his craftsmanship to build a table River herring are harvested river herring in the Pennamaquan the important role of salt marshes and class to the conference that can be adjusted to meet during their spring migration River by expanding our in the Machias River estuary. room and future museum space the needs of whoever is sitting from the sea to inland lakes to understanding of the relationship Environmental in our East Machias facility. Ray around it. Wood for the table spawn. We can estimate the between upstream migration Outreach, Education & has transformed the painted was donated by Dwayne Shaw. size of the migration by using in- of adults and downstream Training: cement-block walls of the room The conference room stream electronic counters. We migration of juveniles. More This project will focus on also take biological samples to generally, the research will building awareness around the monitor age and sex distributions. contribute to our understanding important role that salt marshes We now have the of the role of river herring in the play in maintaining water opportunity to increase the type restoration of coastal food webs. quality, providing food sources DSF's East Machias Facility is for fish and wildlife, and, within International Year of the Salmon the context of climate change, the important role salt marshes Now Fully Accessible! 019 is the International Year of the Salmon (IYS), a worldwide have in mitigating the impacts 2education and outreach initiative organized by the North of rising sea levels and in Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission (NPAFC) and the North boosting community readiness. Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO), to spur Students will be trained SF is thrilled to report that the EM facility is now fully handicap-accessible. A new lift has been installed research that aspires to establish the conditions necessary to in data collection methods and, ensure the resilience of salmon and people throughout the to allow second floor access to our conference room, employee offices, and the future water quality lab. as Citizen Scientists, they will D When renovations and construction of the DSF East Machias facility and the Peter Gray Hatchery Northern Hemisphere. IYS endeavors to bring people together, engage in hands-on activities share and develop knowledge, raise awareness, and take action. were undertaken, the goal was to be a completely accessible building. While original construction and water quality monitoring for incorporated accessible doorways, ramps, and restrooms, it also required designing a lift shaft into the As a NASCO accredited NGO partner, DSF is excited to participate the Schoppee Marsh restoration and promote the International Year of the (WILD) Salmon! original construction plans. The pursuit of a lift led DSF to determine that a Savaria Concord V-1504 project. The students will share Platform Lift to be our wisest choice. The lift was installed this winter and certified in March. With the their findings with the community help of grants secured from MCF Broad Reach, The Davis Conservation and Morton-Kelley Foundations, at a student-lead presentation and an anonymous benefactor, DSF has reached the final phase of a completely accessible facility. hosted by the Machias Downtown Without limitations, all can participate in the mission of DSF! Revitalization Committee.