#kennebecriver #sandyriver #atlanticsalmon #rewildingrivers #naturebasedsolutions #fishpassage #maine #regenerativeeconomy #riverrecreation #communityresilience | Kriton Arsenis | 13 comments

BREAKING NEWS: NGO buys 4 huge dams to let Salmon run free again in the Kennebec River! A landmark $168 million deal will open the way for endangered Atlantic salmon to return to their historic spawning grounds in Maine’s Sandy River for the first time in more than a century. The Nature Conservancy has purchased the four lower Kennebec River dams from Brookfield Renewable — Lockwood, Hydro-Kennebec, Shawmut, and Weston — the last barriers between the Gulf of Maine and the Sandy River. The agreement paves the way for their removal and a free-flowing lower Kennebec River. Why This Matters Atlantic salmon restoration: Today, fewer than 100 adult salmon reach the Sandy River each year, often only through transport around dams. Removing these barriers could quickly boost runs to several hundred. Ecosystem revival: The free river will benefit not only salmon but also river herring, American eel, and Atlantic sturgeon. Previous removals (Edwards Dam in 1999, Fort Halifax Dam in 2008) saw river herring runs increase by over 1,000%. Cultural renewal: Wabanaki communities, whose ancestral ties to the Kennebec run deep, will guide the restoration, reconnecting people with traditional fishing grounds, stories, and place names. Economic opportunities: While the dams currently provide 46 MW of hydropower and over $500,000 in property taxes annually, new investments in outdoor recreation, such as a planned whitewater park in Skowhegan, are expected to generate even greater long-term economic benefits. Energy and Industry The Shawmut Dam plays a role in supporting water needs for Sappi North America’s Somerset Mill, which employs 780 people. The Nature Conservancy has pledged to develop technical solutions to safeguard both the mill’s future and the river’s restoration. Next Steps The dams will remain operational for the next 5–10 years while federal reviews, environmental studies, and decommissioning plans are completed. A dedicated nonprofit entity will oversee dam operations during this transition. Ultimately, the removal of the dams will reconnect more than 825 miles of river and stream habitat to the Gulf of Maine, giving salmon and other species their best chance of survival in generations. Let the Kennebec be the beginning—let’s bring every river back to life. #KennebecRiver #SandyRiver #AtlanticSalmon #RewildingRivers #NatureBasedSolutions #FishPassage #Maine #RegenerativeEconomy #RiverRecreation #CommunityResilience Photo: Shane Anderson and Swiftwater Films https://lnkd.in/d6AaxMKF | 13 comments on LinkedIn