The Lower , 2002‐2019: Fish Assemblage and Habitat Responses to Dam Removal and Diadromous Fish Management

2020 NEAB Conference March 6, 2020

Chris O. Yoder and John Dattilo Center for Applied Bioassessment and Biocriteria Midwest Biodiversity Institute Columbus, OH

Kennebec River @Sidney, ME Kennebec River (2002-19) . to (30 sites, 2 test areas) . Follow-up Waterville to Augusta (2002-19) (2003) . Errol, NH to Merrymeeting Bay (51 sites) 46.00 (2003; 2008-15) . Douglas Pond to Winslow (9 sites) (2004) 400+ Samples . N. Br. To Hamden (40 sites); included W. Br., E. Br., 5 additional tributaries Northern Maine Rivers (2005-6) . St. John (14 sites), Allagash (8 sites), Aroostook (10 sites), St. Croix (12 sites) Southern Maine Rivers (2006) . Presumpscot R., Saco R. (32 sites) Miscellaneous Maine Rivers (2007) . Mattawamkeag R., Rapid R., Moose R., Moosehead Outlets, Dead R., E. Br. Penobscot (22 sites) Sampling Methods

Standardized Approach: • Pulsed D.C. boat electrofishing – effort indexed to distance • Electrode array customized for conditions • Intensive survey design – mainstem & non‐wadeable tribs. • Field water quality and habitat data • July 1 – September 30 index period Watershed “Unique” Character of Maine Riverine Fish Assemblages . Post‐glacial ingress produced the “baseline” fish fauna . Maine Rivers “constrained” to Gulf of Maine. . One brief connection to St. Lawrence & none to Connecticut & western river basins. . Curry (2007): Late glacial impacts on dispersal and colonization of Atlantic Canada and Maine by freshwater fishes. Quaternary Research Gulf of Maine Watershed 67(2): 225‐233. Cold Water Species: Salmon and Trout

Landlocked salmon Rainbow trout (Intracontinental Introduced) (Intercontinental Introduced)

Brook trout (Indigenous Native) (Intercontinental Introduced) Cold Water Species: Non-Salmonids (Indigenous Natives)

Common white sucker (adult life stage) Slimy sculpin

Lake chub Burbot Cold Water Species: Non-Salmonids (Indigenous Natives)

Round Whitefish Longnose Sucker

Blacknose Dace Longnose Dace Widely Distributed Species:

Fallfish (Indigenous Native) (Indigenous Native)

Creek chub

Fallfish Golden shiner (Intraregional origin) Common shiner (All Indigenous Native) Green sunfish Northern pike (Intracontinental origin) (Intracontinental origin)

Non-native Warmwater Species

Black crappie Common carp (Intracontinental origin) (Intercontinental origin) Warmwater Species Several “warmwater” species common to this latitude in other regions are not indigenous (blackbass, pike, muskellunge, crappie).

Smallmouth bass (adult life stage) (Introduced Naturalized c. 1870) “Traditional” IBI vs. Interim Maine IBI

“Traditional IBI Metrics: Interim Maine IBI Metrics: 1. Native species richness 1. Indigenous species richness 2. Darter Species 2. Native cyprinids (less fallfish) 3. Sucker Species 3. %Adult white/longnose biomass 4. Sunfish Species 4. %Blackbass 5. %Intolerant species 5. %Fluvial specialist/dependent 6. %Tolerant species 6. %Macrohabitat generalists 7. %Omnivores 7. %Benthic insectivores 8. %Insectivores 8. Temperate stenotherms 9. %Top carnivores 9. %Native salmonids 10. %Hybrids 10.Non‐guarding lithophils 11. %Diseased individuals 11.%DELT anomalies 12. Number of individuals 12.Non‐indigenous species Biological Condition Gradient Conceptual Model: Rivers Maine Condition of the Biotic Community [Moderate-High Gradient Riverine Ecotype] LOW 1 (enrichment); species richness reduced in some cases some (enrichment); speciesrichness reducedin species predominate and maybecomenumerous absent; tolerant or Native diadromous speciesrare tolerant andmoderately tolerantspecies; absent, replaced by cyprinids are if present by interventions; some native Native diadromous species are absent or Native diadromous speciesare hd mrcnel ro ru,ntv yrnd,wie&lnns sucker) shad, longnose trout, nativecyprinids,white& eel, brook American diad Native inlandfreshwater& 2 populations may co-occur with brooktrout. non-native sal except: 1 as tier Same Human Disturbance Gradient Human Disturbance 3 Some native diadromous species reduced or replaced bynon-nati reduced or towards intermediatetolerances 4 romous species(Atlanticsalmon,alewife, American uyhrspresent;anomaliespresent. eurytherms & brook troutareabsent; non-native mesotherms absent; moderatelytolerantspecies predominate; native Some diadromous species are rare or 5 monid specieswithnaturalized predominate; anomalies present. non-native eurytherms usually salmonids arenon-reproducing; troutareabsent; non-native brook 6 entrlzdsloi species. ve naturalizedsalmonid and mesotherms;brooktroutare are reduced in abundance; shifts anomalies frequent. eurytherms predominate; (toxic impacts);non-native HIGH Native Cyprinidae Blackbass

“Positive” “Negative” metric metric Interim Maine Rivers IBI Metrics & Scoring

Scoring Adjustments Metric Scoring Equation Score = 0 Score = 10 Native Species Richness 10 * (‐0.2462 + (0.0828*numspec2))) <3 sp. >15 sp.

Native Cyprinid Species (excluding (10 * (0.4457 + (0.0109*allcyp_ff) ‐ (0.00005629 * 1 2 Eq Eq fallfish) (allcyp_ff )))) Adult white & longnose sucker (10 * (0.3667 + (0.008*ws_lns_pb) ‐ (0.000023592 * >128 2 0 biomass (ws_lns_pb )))) kg/km (10 * (0.9537 + (0.00000000039*nat_salm) ‐ %Native Salmonids 2 0 >20% (0.000078892 * (nat_salm )))) %Benthic Insectivores 10 * (0.010966*benth_pc_n) 0 >91.2%

%Blackbass 10 ‐ (10 * (‐0.09684 + (0.5638*log10(blackbass)))) Eq 0

%Fluvial Specialist/Dependent (10 * (0.2775 + (0.0073*fluv_pc_n))) 0% Eq

%Macrohabitat Generalists 10 ‐ (10 * (0.1017 + (0.0096*macro_gen))) >90% Eq

Temperate Stenothermic Species (10 * (0.7154 + (0.4047*(log10(steno))))) 0 sp. >5 sp.

Non‐guarding Lithophilic Species (10 * (0.2979 + (0.8975*log10(lith_ng)))) <1 >10 10 ‐ (10 * (0.1063 + (0.3271*Non‐indigenous_sp) ‐ Non‐indigenous Species 2 >5 0 (0.029*(Non‐indigenous_sp )))) %DELT Anomalies 10 ‐ (10 * (0.8965 + (0.1074*log10(delta)))) Eq 0

1 No scoring adjustments are necessary; scoring determined by equation (Eq) across entire metric scoring range of 0‐10. Kennebec River Fish Assemblage Biomass

Riverine Segments Impounded Segments Fish Assemblage RIVERINE SEGMENT 1 Other species (9) Landlocked salmon Rainbow trout Brown trout IMPOUNDED SEGMENT 1 Ot her sp ecies (9) Chain pickerel

Wh ite sucker Bingham Banded # killifish Condition Ranks for 36 American eel

Ameri ca n eel White sucker Smallmouth bass X 400% Kennebec R. Yellow perch KG/KM = 6.58 # NELR Segments American eel 7 KG/ KM = 18.2 12 3 4 5 6 ## Solon

RIVERINE SEGMENT 2 N = 12 Other species (9) # Allagash_Fish R. Initial post‐Edwards Dam removal responseIMPOUNDED SEGMENT 2 # 11 N. Anson Oth er sp ecies (9) Aroostook R. # Yellow perch 11 White Wh ite W. Br. Penobscot sucker sucker Anson # Madison Upper Connecticut R. 6 Smallmouth Common Skowhegan bass American # eel shiner # X 200% Penobscot Tribs. 16 Smallmouth bass 5-6 # # 22 # Redbreast sunfish St. John R. KG/KM = 18.1 Fish Assemblages in New England Rivers are Fallfish Lower Kennebec R. 2002-3 14 4 # American 11 eel E. Br. Penobscot # Middle Kennebec R. 9 NUMBER/KM = 247 3 Fairfield # IMPOUNDED SEGMENT 3 St. Croix R. 14 Other species (8) Rainbow trout RIVERINE SEGMENT 3 # 2 Lower Kennebec R. 2008-9 14 Heavily Influenced by Dams and Flow1 # Waterville Kennebec R. Tidal 7 # Winslow Other species (14) # 12 Smallmouth Upper Connecticut Tribs. American eel bass X 200% 6 Smallmouth bass # Penobscot R. Tidal # Penobscot R. 25 9 Sidney # Redbreast sunfish Upper Middle Connecticut R. KG/KM = 24.9 NELR ME IBI Rankings:# Upper Androscoggin R. 27 Upper Saco R. 10 White sucker Augusta Edwards Dam site Striped bass # Lower Connecticut Tribs. 25 Tidal Segment Upper Kennebec & Branches 7 # th TIDAL SEGMENT Pawcatuk_Wood R. 15 Gardiner LowerOther species (13) Kennebec –Pawtuxet R. 7 7 American eel # Striped bass Lower Saco R. 26 American eel White sucker Lower Connecticut R. 25 Richmond Taunton R. th 11 KG/KM = 105 # Lower Merrimack R. 5 Upper Kennebec –Common carp 11 Presumpscot R. 36 Sandy R. 11 Bowdoinham # # Tidal Connecticut R. 14 Cathance R. # # # Merrymeeting Bay KG/KM = 62.8 (N = 36 NELR River Reaches) 9 Sebasticook R. 2003 Quinebaug_Shetucket 16 Lower Androscoggin R. 30 Blackstone R. 16 Lower Middle Connecticut R. 42 Upper Merrimack R. 24 Housatonic R. 7

100 80 60 40 20 0 Hydroelectric Projects Maine Rivers Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) + # Boat Electrofishing Sites Diadromous Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) Visual evidence of impoundment in the form of settled pulp logs from historic log drives (pre‐1975) still linger near Sidney, ME nine miles upstream Sequence of recovery from impoundment to riverine characteristics at Sidney, ME some nine (9) miles upstream.

1997 Pre-Removal 2007 Post-Removal 2012 Post-Removal (Impounded) (+7 years) (+12 years) Gravel bars and islands are reforming some 18 years later Exposed sediment layering is evidence of deposition at head end of impoundment

Milled wood occurs under layers containing pulp logs from historic log drives (pre-1975)

2018 Post-Removal (+18 years) Habitat Quality 2002‐18 Excellent Pre‐dam Removal Good Fair Poor Very Poor N = Allagash_Fish R. 12 Reference Sites 24 Aroostook R. 11 W. Br. Penobscot 11 St. John R. 22 Penobscot Tribs. 16 Lower Kennebec R. 2002-3 14 E. Br. Penobscot 11 Middle Kennebec R. 9 St. Croix R. Diadromous 14 Kennebec R. Tidal 12 3 567 restoration rivers – Lower Kennebec R. 2008-9 5 Penobscot R. Tidal are key BCG 4 6 Penobscot R. 25 Upper Androscoggin R. attributes missing? 10 Upper Saco R. 10 Upper Kennebec & Branches 7 Lower Saco R. 26 Presumpscot R. 36 Sandy R. 10 Sebasticook R. 2003 9 Lower Androscoggin R. 29

100 80 60 40 20 0 Maine Rivers Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) River herring American eel (Alewife, Blueback, Am. shad) (Catadromous)

Selected Diadromous Species

Atlantic salmon Striped bass (ESA listed in Maine) (Wide annual variations)

N = Allagash_Fish R. 12 Reference Sites 24 Aroostook R. Maine IBI +DIBI 45Maine IBI 11 W. Br. Penobscot 11 St. John R. 22 Penobscot Tribs. 16 Lower Kennebec R. 2002-3 14 Adding the DIBI better detects rivers where E. Br. Penobscot 11 Middle Kennebec R. 9 St. Croix R. 14 diadromous species restoration has been at Kennebec R. Tidal 12 3 6 7

Lower Kennebec R. 2008-9 5 Penobscot R. Tidalleast partially successful. 6 Penobscot R. 25 Upper Androscoggin R. 10 Upper Saco R. 10 Upper Kennebec & Branches 7 Lower Saco R. 26 Presumpscot R. 36 Sandy R. 10 Sebasticook R. 2003 9 Lower Androscoggin R. Equivalent BCG Ranges 29

100 80 60 40 20 0 Maine Rivers Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) species that now have thriving populations. The core ME IBI is mired in Levels IV‐V due h otdmremoval “bump” happened The post‐dam to the quickly followed by mostly BCG Level III

Maine Rivers IBI + DIBIMaine Rivers IBI 100 permanent 20 40 60 80 0 performance in the DIBI. Impoundments 2002 Pre‐dam Removal Kennebec R. 2002 Kennebec R. 2003 Kennebec R. 2004 Kennebec R. 2005 Kennebec R. 2006 Lower Kennebec River: 2002-19 River: Kennebec Lower Kennebec R. 2007 Kennebec R. 2008 Kennebec R. 2009A Kennebec R. 2009B

Kennebec R. 2010 influence of non‐native Kennebec R. 2011A Kennebec R. 2011B Kennebec R. 2012A

Kennebec R. 2012B Kennebec R. 2013A Kennebec R. 2013B Kennebec R. 2014A Kennebec R. 2014B Kennebec R. 2015A Kennebec R. 2015B Kennebec R. 2016A Kennebec R. 2016B Kennebec R. 2017A Kennebec R. 2017B Kennebec R. 2018A Kennebec R. 2018B Kennebec R. 2019A Kennebec R. 2019B

IV VI III V II I Approximate BCG Tier BCG Approximate “River Herring” • Alewife, blueback herring, and American shad • Anadromous life history • Occur in our samples as For Alewife, improving access to lakes & outmigrating y‐o‐y • Most abundant in lower ponds – restoring connectivity –Kennebec R. – is a major limited by management objective.dams • Extensive restoration efforts underway 1400 Ft. Halifax Dam Removal (Sebasticook R. at mouth) 1200 Alewife y‐o‐y 1000

Alewife (y-o-y) 800 Alewife y‐o‐y numbers rapidly increased 600 after the Ft. Halifax dam removal, but seem 400

Numbers/Km to have declined after 2014. 200

0 Size differences above reflect from which pond they originated. Alewife (yoy - Jul. 2003) Alewife(yoy - Aug. 2005 Alewife (yoy - Aug. 2005 Alewife (yoy - Aug. 2006 Alewife (yoy Alewife 2004- Sept. Alewife (yoy - Sept. 2006 Alewife (yoy - Sept. 2007 Alewife (yoy - Sept. 2008 Alewife (yoy - Aug. 2002) Alewife (yoy -Sep. 2002) Alewife (yoy - Aug 6-8, 2014 Alewife (yoy - Oct. 1-2, 2018 Alewife (yoy - Oct. 8-9, 2019 Alewife (yoy - Oct. 1-4, 2009 Alewife (yoyAlewife Sept. 4-5, - 2018 Alewife(yoy - Sept.4-5, 2019 Alewife (yoy Alewife 9-11, 2012 Oct. - (yoyAlewife8-10, 2013 - Oct. 2017 9-11, Oct. - (yoy Alewife Alewife (yoy - Oct. 13-14, 2014 Alewife(yoy - Oct. 13-14,2015 Alewife (yoy10-12, - Oct. 2016 Alewife(yoy - Sept.24-26, 2013 Alewife(yoy - Sept.21-23, 2009 (yoy Alewife 2010 - Sept. 15-17, Alewife (yoy - Sept. 15-17, 2011 Alewife(yoy - Sept. 15-17, 2011 Alewife (yoy -Sept. 25-27,2012 Alewife (yoy - Sept. 28-29, 2015 (yoyAlewife 2016 - Sept. 20-22, Alewife (yoy - Sept. 19-20, 2017 Alewife (yoy - Sep 29-Oct. 1, 2014 Lower Kennebec Flow Regime Recent periods of extended low flows in the fall months raise the issue of outmigrating Alewife becoming delayed “stranded” – any adverse effects would be seen in reduced return of adults and outmigrating y‐o‐y in 4‐5 years (2021‐22). Conclusions & Next Steps . Post‐impoundment recovery evident in DIBI and selected diadromous species abundances. . “Core” IBI has reached its “zenith of recovery”, i.e., permanent influence of introduced warmwater species. . Need to “be there” during out migration of Clupeids – one week (even one day) can make a difference. . Is anyone else looking at the assemblage response? . We finally have a database “customer” – Dr. Adrian Jordaan, UMass Amherst funded by TU and TNC ‐ Joint Species Distribution Model (JSDM). . Currently pursuing an ESA permit – the Section 7 ITP via U.S. EPA, Region I expired in 2019. Many thanks to the volunteer field crew members from Maine DMR!

35 lbs. 29 lbs.

So, you didn’t think we can catch big fish ... ?