07-105 Chapter 1 page i 07 EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT 105 STATE PLANNING OFFICE Chapter 1: KENNEBEC RIVER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN: BALANCING HYDROPOWER GENERATION AND OTHER USES TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................... 1 Purposes of the Kennebec River Resource Management Plan ............................................................. 1 Geographic Scope of the Plan .............................................................................................................. 2 Dams Undergoing Relicensing by FERC............................................................................................. 2 Socioeconomic Characteristics and Historical Context ........................................................................ 4 History of Hydropower Regulation in Maine ....................................................................................... 8 ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE KENNEBEC RIVER BASIN ............................... 10 Physical Description of the Kennebec River and Watershed............................................................... 10 Fish and Wildlife Habitat .................................................................................................................... 11 Nontidal Mainstem Waters............................................................................................................. 11 Tributaries ...................................................................................................................................... 15 Tidal Waters................................................................................................................................... 25 Water Quality ................................................................................................................................. 29 HYDROPOWER REGULATION.......................................................................................................... 31 Role of the Federal Government in Hydropower Regulation............................................................... 31 The FERC Consultation Process......................................................................................................... 32 The Role of State Government............................................................................................................ 33 Relative Cost of Relicensing Activities ............................................................................................... 34 Summaries of Status of Projects Undergoing Relicensing .................................................................. 35 RESOURCES AND BENEFICIAL USES............................................................................................. 44 Hydropower Generation...................................................................................................................... 44 Existing Facilities. .......................................................................................................................... 44 Hydropower Potential..................................................................................................................... 48 Recommendations .......................................................................................................................... 48 Flows .................................................................................................................................................. 50 Reservoir Levels and Flow Regime................................................................................................ 50 Water Management Regime........................................................................................................... 51 Flood Damage Reduction............................................................................................................... 52 Recommendations. ......................................................................................................................... 53 Water Quality...................................................................................................................................... 54 Recommendations. ......................................................................................................................... 54 Fisheries.............................................................................................................................................. 55 07-105 Chapter 1 page ii Anadromous Fisheries.................................................................................................................... 55 Inland Fisheries .............................................................................................................................111 Recommendations. ........................................................................................................................126 Recreational and Scenic Resources....................................................................................................129 Recreation and Access Opportunities............................................................................................129 Commercial Rafting ......................................................................................................................138 Recommendations .........................................................................................................................141 Archaeology .......................................................................................................................................142 Archaeological and Historic Resources .........................................................................................142 Archaeological Impacts and Mitigation .........................................................................................150 Recommendations .........................................................................................................................151 MUNICIPAL PLANNING ....................................................................................................................152 Shoreland Zoning ...............................................................................................................................152 Municipal Planning from Harris Dam to Augusta..............................................................................152 CRITERIA FOR STATE AGENCY DECISION-MAKING ................................................................156 Maine Rivers Policy: Special Protection for Outstanding River Segments.........................................157 SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS ...........................................................................................158 Hydropower .......................................................................................................................................158 Flows .................................................................................................................................................158 Water Quality.....................................................................................................................................159 Fisheries.............................................................................................................................................159 Recreational and Scenic Resources....................................................................................................160 Archaeology .......................................................................................................................................161 APPENDICES........................................................................................................................................162 BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................................................................................................................192 TABLES AND FIGURES Table 1 -- Dams in the Kennebec River Basin Subject to Relicensing; All Licenses set to Expire in 1993....................................................................................................................................... 3 Table 2 -- Hydropower Licenses Reissued Prior to 1989 ......................................................................... 3 Table 3 -- Kennebec River - Principal Tributaries ................................................................................... 11 Table 4 -- Summary of Field Observations on the Roach River, July 1971 ............................................. 17 Table 5 -- Drainage Areas of the Kennebec River and its Tributaries...................................................... 26 Table 6 -- Area (acres) of Tidal Riverine Subsystems and Classes in the Kennebec/Sheepscot Rivers Estuarial Complex ..................................................................................................... 27 Table 7 -- Area (acres) of Estuarine Subsystems and Classes in the Kennebec/Sheepscot Rivers Estuarial Complex ............................................................................................................... 29 Table 8 -- Breakdown of Relicensing Expenses................................................................................... 35 Table 9 -- Available Reservoir Storage, Kennebec River Basin above Bingham, Maine ..................... 45 Table 10 -- Kennebec River Basin Generating Facilities