Last wild Atlantic salmon could survive off Maine dams, Feds say

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The federal government ruled Monday that the nation’s last wild Atlantic salmon can coexist with hydroelectric dams on the Maine River, hitting environmentalists who have long tried to remove the dams.

Salmon, once abundant in the US, is now returning to only a few Maine rivers. One of them is the Kennebec River, which was dammed by Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said on Monday that the dams are unlikely to endanger the continued existence of salmon if conservation measures are taken.

Conservation measures at Brookfield’s four Kennebec Dams are designed to improve fish passage and will require Brookfield to invest more than $100 million, according to NOAA. The agency said the dam upgrade will allow salmon to swim up the Kennebec River from the Atlantic Ocean to freshwater inland habitats for the first time since dams were built in the 19th century.

The agency checked the dams because Brookfield is trying to relicense one of them and amend the licenses for three others, NOAA spokesman Allison Ferreira said. NOAA said in a statement that it “will oversee an extensive monitoring program to ensure that the dams meet expectations to improve fish passage in the Kennebec River.”

NOAA’s opinion “is a milestone in ensuring that these facilities can continue to support Maine’s clean energy future and traditional industries in the lower Kennebec River,” said David Heidrich, Brookfield spokesman.

However, environmental groups have said the dams threaten salmon extinction and NOAA’s decision is shortsighted. They also said the dams pose a risk to other vulnerable fish species such as sturgeons.

The dam’s negative impact on salmon is a violation of the Endangered Species Act, the Kennebec Coalition, an alliance of several environmental groups backing the dam’s removal, said in a statement. They argue that the dams not only block access to key spawning grounds, but also create dangerous conditions for these fish.

The story goes on

“Removing these dams offers the best chance of preventing the extinction of the Atlantic salmon, as well as continuing to restore the Kennebec River to a lively and healthy state,” the statement said.

US Atlantic salmon populations have dwindled to hundreds due to factors such as overfishing and habitat loss, according to NOAA. They have been listed under the Endangered Species Act for over two decades.

Conservationists and Native American tribes have been saying for years that Brookfield failed in its duty to protect the remaining salmon.

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