The maine department of marine resources (mdmr) seeks to build a new state of the art fishways at the woodland project (maine stream habitat viewer site ID D1876) and build a nature like fishway at…

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service, through its National Fish Passage Program (CFDA 15.685), awarded a $56,476,862 Project Grant to the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) to build new state-of-the-art fishways at the Woodland Project and Grand Falls Project sites. These improvements will significantly enhance access to over 600 miles of historic sea-run fish habitat and 60,000 acres of alewife habitat, with the potential to produce the largest river herring run in North America. The project will also open habitats that could annually produce over 150,000 American shad, millions of American eels, and tens of thousands of native sea lamprey, contributing to the recovery and conservation of threatened and endangered species, enhancing watershed health, and improving economic vitality in the region. The grant award has an ultimate completion date of December 31, 2027.

The maine department of marine resources (mdmr) seeks to build a new state of the art fishways at the woodland project (maine stream habitat viewer site ID D1876) and build a nature like fishway at the grand falls project (mshv site ID D1891) significantly improving access to over 600 miles of historic sea run fish habitat and over 60000 acres of alewife habitat. Mdmr seeks to modernize fish passage at woodland DAM and grand falls DAM two privately owned congressionally authorized projects exempt from the federal power act. The existing 1960S ERA fishways at these sites are at imminent risk of failure are undersized and poorly designed limiting fish migrations and possibly precluding them if they fail. New modern fishways are required to realize the rivers production and ecosystem restoration potential. This project has the potential to produce the most significant river herring population in the united states and canada returning tens of millions of adults annually. This project would also open habitats that could annually produce over 150000 american shad millions of american eels and tens of thousands of native sea lamprey. This project rebuilds productive and sustainable fisheries contributes to the recovery and conservation of threatened and endangered species enhances watershed health promotes resilient ecosystems and communities and improves economic vitality in the poorest and most fisheries dependent county in new england including the peskotomukati passamaquoddy people.upstream and downstream improvements at woodland and grand falls dams will drastically improve access for all life stages of priority fish species spawning rearing foraging and migration habitats. The asmfc fishery management plan for american EEL (2000) identifies fish passage at hydropower projects as a habitat area of particular concern. Similarly recent amendments to the asmfc fishery management plan for american shad and river herring (alewife and blueback herring) identify barriers to migration as one of the highest priority threats to these species. Almost all the native fish species present in the watershed are listed as species of greatest conservation need in maines state wildlife action plan. Downstream species such as atlantic and shortnose sturgeon are listed as threatened and endangered under the endangered species act. River herring are listed by NOAA as a species of concern and USFWS considers them an at risk species and the focus of the regions diadromous fish at risk species team. Species that benefit from healthy runs of river herring include the important endangered species act (ESA) listed atlantic salmon which rely on large numbers of river herring to buffer against predation during migrations. Furthermore there is evidence that diadromous species including river herring may serve as a prey source for mature or maturing atlantic salmon in the nearshore environment. Fish passage improvements are vital for achieving productive and sustainable fisheries and this project has the potential to create the largest river herring run in north america. The improvements at woodland and grand falls dams will reduce the risk of catastrophic failure of the fishways and associated damage to the dams potentially impacting mill operations. A fishway failure would reduce the run of sea run fish to nearly nothing as practically all of the habitat is upstream compromising the health and resiliency of the ecosystem and local economy that benefits from the very modest run of river herring that passes the project now. The rebound of sea run fish resources in the ST. Croix river will contribute to the important nearshore ocean fisheries and coastal economies that are highly dependent on fishing. This is a high priority project for US federal agencies canadian agencies two tribes the state of maine and numerous other interested groups.