Penobscot River The The Penobscot River watershed Mount is Maine’s largest Katahdin river, draining Penobscot River 8,570 square miles, more than one-quarter Restoration of the state. Project Millinocket Lake SOURCE: Penobscot River Restoration Trust; MEGIS Photos by Bridget Besaw (1,2,3), Cheryl Daigle (4), Len Clarke (5) AND JOE DANA (immature bald eagle) BDN GRAPHIC BY ERIC ZELZ Penobscot Dolby River Restoration Pond Project area North Twin Lake East Branch of the Penobscot River Millinocket East Millinocket Medway ENERGY West Branch Medway Dam of the Penobscot River
Mattawamkeag River
The Veazie Dam removal reconnects the Penobscot River to the sea for the Mattawamkeag first time in nearly 200 years. Combined with removal of Great Works Dam Penobscot River last year and other fish passage improvements upstream, all 11 species of sea-run fish will have greatly improved access to nearly 1,000 miles of Endless spawning, rearing and nursery habitat. Lake Seboeis Lake
Schoodic South Lake Branch Lake Lincoln ENERGY West Enfield Dam
FISHERIES West Enfield Dam Pleasant River Existing fish passage Piscataquis River Howland West Cold Stream Pond The Penobscot River Restoration: Enfield A project of cooperation FISHERIES Fishing opportunities up and down the river will be more diverse Howland Dam throughout the year as Atlantic salmon, American shad, river herring and conservation Passadumkeag and other sea-run fish populations rebound. Decommission/ Innovative fish bypass The Penobscot River Restoration Project is an Passadumkeag Great Works Dam River removed in 2012; unprecedented collaboration between the Penobscot River Veazie Dam Penobscot Indian Nation, seven conservation groups, removed in 2013 Olamon Energy increase hydropower companies PPL Corporation and Black Sugar Island Olamon Olamon Bear Hydro, LLC, and state and federal governments, Island Stream Fish passage to restore 11 species of sea-run fish on the Penobscot Energy increase River while balancing hydropower production. and fish passage This extraordinary project brings hope for the future. 5 miles N The plan to restore the ecological integrity of the Orson Penobscot River watershed will revitalize Island FISHERIES Milford Dam the rich history of cultural traditions, and ENERGY Indian Island Milford Dam New upstream fish passage provide economic opportunities in Pushaw Stillwater Old Milford After the Veazie Dam removal, canoeists and kayakers will be able to communities up and down the river. Lake River Town paddle from Old Town to the sea without any major obstructions, and whitewater enthusiasts will have several “new” stretches of rapids to ENERGY FISHERIES play on. Stillwater and Orono dams Great Works Dam Orono Removed in 2012 FISHERIES Veazie Dam Veazie Removed in 2013 Eddington Kenduskeag Stream Bangor Brewer Souadabscook Stream Hampden Orrington
Penobscot River
Dam removal and other fish passage improvements restore ecological and Winterport cultural connections between the inland woods and waterways and the Atlantic Ocean. They also allow for an exchange of marine and freshwater nutrients that are important to wildlife throughout the watershed. Frankfort Bucksport ENERGY Ellsworth Project Orland (Union River)
Ellsworth
Stockton Springs
Searsport
Belfast Blue Hill Penobscot Bay Castine
As alewife and other river herring recover, the increased food base is expected to draw cod and other groundfish back to historic inland Northport spawning grounds, helping to boost commercially important fisheries Mount central to the economies and culture of coastal communities. Desert Island