Steve Brooke shares  “A Fisherman’s Dream for the Kennebec River” with Downeast Trout Unlimited on Wed. March 26 at 5:30 pm. Moore Community Center 125 State St. Ellsworth and via Zoom. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/2jxbquJeT4yyNs6dYKCeWw

Before the Kennebec was industrialized this unique watershed, which includes Merrymeeting Bay, produced enormous populations of sea-run fish that helped feed indigenous populations as well as nourish the Gulf of Maine ecosystem. In the 1980’s the Kennebec Valley Chapter of TU recognized the river’s potential and formed the Kennebec Coalition. They spearheaded the removal of the Edwards Dam in Augusta. Since this dam was removed the Kennebec’s lower tributaries have shown significant increases in populations of river herring. Sadly, the Gulf of Maine's population of Atlantic salmon was listed as an Endangered Species by the federal government. Four dams still block the migration of all sea-run fish above Waterville to their spawning and nursery habitat. The question is what comes next to restore Kennebec’s once vibrant fisheries?

Steve Brooke is an art conservator who became an environmentalist. He served as Project Coordinator for the Kennebec Coalition during the removal of the Edwards Dam in Augusta, which restored fisheries and improved wildlife habitat on the Kennebec and sparked a movement for free-flowing rivers across the US.

Contact Tammy Packie, tpackie@gmail.com or visit https://www.downeasttu.org/ or Downeast TU on Facebook for information.