Impediments to atlantic salmon recovery in maine project period: 9 16 2024 - 12 31 2028ABSTRACT summary: atlantic salmon have been listed as federally endangered and their recovery is threatened by…

This Cooperative Agreement award, with a total funding of $108,516.04, was provided by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under the Cooperative Research Units (CFDA 15.812) program. The University of Maine System will use the funding to conduct research on impediments to Atlantic salmon recovery in Maine over the project period of September 16, 2024 to December 31, 2028.

The key objectives of the project are to:

1. Assess patterns of upstream and downstream migrations of adult Atlantic salmon
2. Characterize patterns of downstream migrating Atlantic salmon smolts
3. Assess the role of energy depletion during adult Atlantic salmon migration on reproductive potential
4. Assess patterns of overlap of predators, competitors, and parasites with migrating Atlantic salmon

The research activities will involve four graduate students installing and maintaining radio and telemetry receivers to track the movements, delays, and success of migrating Atlantic salmon juveniles and adults, as well as striped bass, a major salmon predator. The project will also assess the metabolic demand and thermal experience of adult Atlantic salmon during migration. The expected deliverables include completed theses, peer-reviewed publications, and information to support Endangered Species Act consultations and prescriptions for hydroelectric dams within the Gulf of Maine distinct population segment of Atlantic salmon.

Impediments to atlantic salmon recovery in maine project period: 9 16 2024 - 12 31 2028ABSTRACT summary: atlantic salmon have been listed as federally endangered and their recovery is threatened by a suite of impacts that include dams and their influences on predators, passage and temperature challenges. This proposed project addresses four specific issues that are of notable concern to inform managers as to the current trajectory of recovery in the gulf of maines distinct population segment. Specifically the following objectives are being addressed to inform the complex ways that continuing efforts to restore atlantic salmon in maine are influenced by life history specific losses, physiological limitation, and ecological interaction through the following objectives.objective 1 assess patterns of upstream and downstream migrations of adult atlantic salmon objective 2 characterize patterns of downstream migrating atlantic salmon smolts objective 3 assess the role of energy depletion during adult atlantic salmon migration on reproductive potentialobjective 4 assess patterns of overlap of predators, competitors, and parasites with migrating atlantic salmon activities to be performed - four graduate students will install and maintain radio and telemetry receivers in the penobscot river during the passage season assess movements, delays and success for migratory atlantic salmon juveniles and adults. In addition, movements of a major predator, striped bass will be tracked. Efforts would be made to directly assess the metabolic demand of an adult atlantic salmon animal while swimming at different speeds and temperatures to assess the influence of delays on thermal experience, energy use, and performance. Deliverables and expected outcomes -the expected deliverable for this work is the successful completion of field work, retrieval of data, and a clear and defensible quantitative analysis. Full funding of this work will deliver four completed theses and at least four submissions of manuscripts for peer reviewed publication. These products will inform section 18 prescriptions and ESA consultations for hydro-electric dams within the range of the GOM DPS of endangered atlantic salmon. Importantly, this information supports three of the four priorities identified in the species in the spotlight action plan provisions of timely passage are linked to connectivity, spawner success and ultimately the return of adults to the marine environment: reconnect the gulf of maine with headwater streams increase the number of fish successfully entering the marine environment increase understanding and ability to improve survival in the marine environment this work will also document both expected benefits to the species by documenting restoration of freshwater productive capacity, resilience to climate change and assessment of thermal refuges. Intended beneficiary(IES) -the project supports the management of atlantic salmon, jointly managed by NOAA, USFWS, maine department of marine resources and wabanaki tribes, represented by the penobscot indian nation. This project provides critical research to monitor and evaluate the return and restoration of atlantic salmon to the river, supports development and validation of ongoing assessments. This work supports better overall understanding of the ecological health of the penobscot river watershed after removals of dams as part of the penobscot river restoration project and in the context of ongoing efforts to improve fish passage (e.g., in the piscataquis river). In the US, the project will support the US governments trust responsibilities with federally recognized tribes. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award -not applicable