NATURAL RESOURCES COUNCIL OF MAINE • January 14, 2021
The Kennebec was once the most productive river in Maine1, supporting vibrant Atlantic salmon runs in the hundreds of thousands, and runs of shad and river herring in the many millions. Today, Atlantic salmon are on the brink of extinction, and their survival depends on further restoration of the Kennebec more than any other river in the United States. Four dams above Waterville, owned by the international energy giant Brookfield Renewable Power, stand in the way of a free and healthy Kennebec, blocking access to miles of historic spawning habitat. Federal and state agencies have identified these dams as the key impediment to restoring the Kennebec and have called for removal of the Shawmut Dam and potentially others in order to save endangered Atlantic salmon and other sea-run fish.