 Overview |
| Conservation Incentives |
Restoring Maine Atlantic Salmon Habitat
Background and Summary Atlantic salmon are often called an indicator species: where salmon occur the ecosystem is thought to be of high quality. Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) utilize freshwater habitat for reproduction and rearing of their young – stages of the life cycle in which they are particularly sensitive to environmental conditions. A combination of commercial overharvesting, acid rain and disease has reduced the population of Atlantic salmon, leading to it being listed as a federally endangered species. Prior to the development of conservation forestry practices for riparian areas, forest management did not adequately address such issues as: establishing adequate riparian buffer zones; maintaining streamside shade; ensuring that road construction and use did not lead to streamside erosion; and creating stream crossings that block fish passage. In Maine, only about 600 wild salmon currently return to Maine waters every year. To engage forest landowners in Maine Atlantic salmon habitat recovery efforts, Shared Streams and other conservation partners funded demonstration restoration projects that educated and motivated landowners to practice forestry best management practices (BMPs) on their own land to help protect water quality. Partners: Trout Unlimited, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Maine Forest Service, and the Maine Tree Farm Committee. This partnership was unique in addressing objectives of the Atlantic Conservation Plan for the Seven Maine Rivers through the cooperative efforts of family forest owners. This initiative offered a unique opportunity for organizations with diverse interests (forest stewardship, fresh water and anadromous fish habitat enhancement, river conservation, and watershed protection) to collaborate and enhance critical river ecosystems. This Shared Streams initiative implemented restorative habitat improvement methods on four family-owned forestlands that were in watersheds that are home to the rapidly declining Maine Atlantic salmon distinct population segment identified by the NMFS. It had two components:
View a pdf of an article on the initiative that appeared in the Tree Farmer magazine. Our Strategy Outreach and Education Activitiles
Technical and Cost-share Assistance Protecting the waters that Atlantic salmons breed and rear their young in requires landowners to undertake proactive measures such as establishing riparian buffers, stabilizing forestry roads, and addressing areas of erosion on their property. These activities are often expensive and demand technical expertise that landowners may not have. Shared Streams encourages forest owners to work with their foresters, state agencies, local conservation groups and natural resource professionals who can provide technical assistance in developing conservation and forest management plans. In addition to the demonstration field day and conservation educational trail, two other projects received cost-share funding to implement forestry practices to benefit the Atlantic salmon. Kenduskeag Stream: This stream is a 60-mile long tributary of the Penobscot River and was historically a very important producer of Atlantic salmon within the Penobscot watershed. The stream continues to support large numbers of juvenile salmon. This project was chosen to address another key land management issue for Atlantic salmon habitat – the impact of livestock in riparian areas. Through cost-share funding, fencing was installed to keep livestock out of the river, an alternative watering source was provided, an eroding gully was reshaped and seeded and streamside vegetation was planted. Pleasant River Workday: The Pleasant River is one of eight rivers in Maine whose Atlantic salmon populations were listed as endangered. Salmon habitat on the river has been degraded by water withdrawal, agricultural practices, and the loss of riparian vegetation. This project offered an excellent opportunity to illustrate the potential damage that can be done when responsible professionals do not supervise forestry activities. The project helped correct an immediate threat to Atlantic salmon and brook trout habitat. Nearly 1,000 feet of eroding road was retired, removing an ongoing and growing source of sediment to the Pleasant River and restoring 150 feet of important riparian buffer and upland forest. The road had never been re-vegetated, and ongoing erosion had created several large gullies that were growing with every rain event. A workday was held and volunteers assisted with re-grading the road, implementing erosion control measures, seeding with a ground cover crop for short term erosion control, and replanting native tree species. The Pleasant River project was made possible by a grant from the Outdoor Life Conservation Fund, TU's Embrace A Stream program, and a matching grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. |
