“102 hydropower dams are now licensed in Maine. These have a combined installed generating capacity of over 743 megawatts (roughly equivalent to one nuclear power plant), as well as billions of cubic feet of water storage capacity. An additional 27 small-scale hydro projects have an exemption from licensing.’
‘In order for a hydropower project to be relicensed by FERC, the State must first certify that continued operation of the project will comply with Maine’s water quality standards. These standards relate to the waterbody’s physical characteristics (e.g., minimum dissolved oxygen levels) as well as its designated uses (recreation, fishing, aquatic habitat, etc.). Existing in-stream uses must be protected under the State’s “antidegradation” policy.”
| Year | Escapement Number (based on target) | spawning below barrier? | exploitation rate |
| 2000 | 65,124 | n/y | 0.48 |
| 2001 | 65,124 | n/y | 0.31 |
| 2002 | 65,124 | n/y | 0.86 |
| 2003 | 65,124 | n/y | 0.65 |
| 2004 | 65,124 | n/y | 0.50 |
| 2005 | 65,124 | n/y | 0.75 |
| 2006 | 65,124 | n/y | 0.91 |
| 2007 | 379,890 | n/y | 0.00 |
| 2008 | 379,890 | n/y | 0.00 |
| 2009 | 379,890 | n/y | 0.20 |
| 2010 | 379,890 | n/y | 0.12 |
Benton Commercial Fishery:
The Benton municipal fishery resumed for the first time in 198 years as the result of the removal of the
Edwards Dam in Augusta, Maine and a ten-year restoration program. Repeat spawning rate for the
Benton fishery is unknown. Maine fisheries staff collected scale samples in 2010 and will analyze these
scales this winter. The Maine Department of Marine Resources currently manages this system for a
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commercial escapement of 35 fish per acre. The spawning escapement need for this system is 379,890
river herring passed upstream into spawning habitat. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and
Wildlife did permit a limited dip net fishery in the river, below the first dam, for seven years (2000-2006).
MDMR staff believes landings for this period were underreported based on the numbers of fishing
permits issued and the number of landings reported at the end of the year. The MDMR closed the
fishery in 2007 to allow the municipality of Benton to reacquire historical rights to the fishery. The Town
of Benton conducted its first commercial dip net fishery in 2009.
The Maine Department of Marine Resources began the Sebaticook River Restoration Project by
stocking 6 fish/acres into available historic spawning habitat as permitted by the Maine Department of
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The initial stocking, which placed 57,533 pre-spawn adults within the
10,854 acres of spawning habitat, created an estimated run on the Sebasticook River ranging between
1.5 and 3.5 million fish within six years. There was no permanent upstream passage available until the
State of Maine and conservation groups removed the Fort Halifax Dam in 2008. Prior to 2007, a limited
commercial dip net harvest below the first dam on the river captured returning adults. The fish
escaping the fishery remained below the dam until they dropped out of the system during early
summer. Estimates of the number of river herring remaining below the dam range from 1.25– 3 million
individuals.
Several ponds within the Sebasticook River drainage provide excellent spawning and nursery habitat.
These habitats currently support the largest monitored river herring run in Maine. Continued restoration
efforts in the watershed will open additional historic spawning areas over the next several years. Two
hydropower dam remain on the main stem of the river. Both dams have dedicated upstream and
downstream passage. There are no passage efficiency numbers establish for either site at this time.
Upstream passage counts during the past two seasons ranged from 1.3 to 1.6 million individuals. The
municipal commercial harvest plan restricts harvest gear at the base of the hydropower dam to dip nets
and cast nets (Figure 32). These gear types severely limit the numbers of fish that the harvester can
access during the season. The Maine Department of Marine Resources in conjunction with the
hydropower company, operates and monitors upstream passage. Upstream passage is a priority at
this location with 100,000 fish required to pass prior to commencing harvest activities. Spawning habitat
is available above and below the dam for blueback herring but not alewife. There is a mix of blueback
herring in the commercial alewife catch toward the end of the season. Most of the blueback herring
escape the commercial alewife fishery due to the early closed date of June 5 each year. Blueback
passage numbers at the Benton fish lift exceeded 400,000 for the season.
BentonFallsPages from Management-Board_ASMFC-River-Herring-Sustainable-Fishing-Plan-_2_
Everything Eats Alewives 