Town Officials Applaud Decision To Reboot Kennebec River Salmon Restoration Project

MAINE PUBLIC • April 9, 2021

Municipal officials in towns along the Kennebec River are applauding a state decision this week to reboot its planning process for restoring endangered Atlantic salmon to their historic habitat. The Department of Marine Resources' draft plan included recommendations that two of the river's four dams be decommissioned or removed, and that the others be considered for removal. But at a public hearing and in written comments, riverside communities and employers said a rushed process was ignoring economic considerations. Stakeholders on all sides say they'd like to see a resolution that protects jobs, property values and the fish.