Wild Atlantic salmon, Togus Stream, Randolph, Maine.
National Academy of Sciences'
Recommendations for the Kennebec River:
"NMFS and USFWS (1999) characterize the Gulf of Maine DPS (Distinct
Population Segment) as including "all coastal watersheds with native
populations of Atlantic salmon north of and including the Kennebec River
(below the Edwards Dam) to the mouth of the St. Croix River at the U.S.-Canada
border." The agencies later excluded the salmon populations from the
lower Kennebec drainage from the DPS. The Kennebec is the second largest
watershed in Maine and historically had produced similar numbers of Atlantic
salmon (Atkins 1869; Kendall 1935). The largest impact on the survival of
Atlantic salmon in Maine will be obtained by conserving and nurturing the
Penobscot populations, but the second largest impact can be obtained
by restoring Atlantic salmon to the Kennebec.
"With the removal of Edwards Dam on the lower Kennebec, the possibility
of salmon recovery in the upper Kennebec mainstem has become a matter of
considerable interest. Viable populations of Atlantic salmon are in Togus
Stream and Bond Brook tributaries, both joining the main stem below Edwards
Dam. Strays from other rivers have been documented within the drainage (Beland
1986; Baum 1997). It is not entirely clear whether the current populations
represent the remnants of persistent aboriginal populations within the drainage
(Baum 1997; Beland 1986; Buckley 1999; Foye et al. 1969; Havey 1968, Vail
et al. 1995), but neither Bond Brook nor Togus Stream were incorporated
into the DPS (NMFS and FWS 1999).
"The report on the genetic status of Maine's salmon (NRC 2002a) included
salmon from Togus Stream and Bond Brook (collectively labeled Kennebec)
in its comparison of genetic assignment success rates among Maine drainages
(King et al. 1999). A close examination of the data (NRC 2002a) shows
that the salmon populations of the Kennebec drainage are more distinct than
are those of the current DPS rivers. The current populations are wild, and
they should figure prominently in any restoration effort. The committee
concludes that there is nothing to lose by not stocking the Kennebec (NRC
2002b). Atlantic salmon seem to be recolonizing the upper Kennebec main
stem above the Togus and Bond Brook tributaries. There is preliminary evidence
that salmon are already spawning as far upriver as Ticonic Falls, 19 miles
above the former dam site (P. Christman, personal communication, 2002).
The opportunity to observe the course of that rebound, in the absence of
stocking, should not be missed.
"The Kennebec also provides an excellent opportunity for fishery managers
and biologists to determine whether dam removal will be sufficient to allow
recolonization and expansion of wild fish populations upstream of previous
impediments. A review of accumulated experience in Bond Brook and Togus
Stream suggests that some recolonization of the upstream Kennebec main stem
can be expected. For the short term, salmon should be allowed the chance
to rebound naturally in the Kennebec without hatchery augmentation.
Conditions should be monitored closely, however. If the population of wild
salmon does not rebound naturally in the Kennebec, an enhancement program
can be implemented (presumably using Togus and/or Bond Brook brood stock),
but if the main stem population rebounds naturally, subsequent stocking
should be avoided. In addition, the Androscoggin -- also emptying into Merrymeeting
Bay -- is blocked by a large dam, thus serving as a control for the Kennebec.
"
From Atlantic Salmon in Maine (2004), by the Committee on Atlantic
Salmon in Maine, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences,
Washington, D.C.
BACKGROUND:
Four years ago, Maine Governor Angus King and Maine Senators Olympia Snowe
and Susan Collins requested that the National Academy of Sciences (NAS)
conduct an independent assessment of the science used by the U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service to determine that
Atlantic salmon in Maine were threatened with extinction, and thus, qualified
for protection under the United States Endangered Species Act (ESA). Collins,
Snowe and King repeatedly stated in public that the last few remaining Atlantic
salmon in the Maine were not "real" Atlantic salmon , and as such,
nothing would be lost if the last few Atlantic salmon left in Maine died
and went extinct.
In 2000, the National Academy of Sciences created a "Committee on Maine
Atlantic Salmon," comprised of expert fisheries scientists, to examine
this issue and report their findings to Congress.
In January 2002, the NAS issued its first of two reports, which declared
that the decision to protect Maine Atlantic salmon under the United States
Endangered Species Act was scientifically sound and correct. However, the
NAS report dismissed the existence of any wild Atlantic salmon in the Kennebec
River.
In February 2002, Friends of the Kennebec Salmon contacted NAS staff in
Washington, D.C. and asked permission to submit scientific evidence from
a wide variety of sources which show the Kennebec River has a population
of wild Atlantic salmon. We were invited to submit this information to the
NAS Committee on Maine Atlantic Salmon for their review. Our report
was submitted to the NAS soon thereafter; and Friends of the Kennebec Salmon
hosted the NAS Committee on their site visit to the Kennebec River in Augusta
in April 2002.
This year, 2004, the National Academy of Sciences issued its second and
final report on Maine Atlantic Salmon, providing recommendations on methods
to restore the species to a condition of health in Maine's rivers. We are
pleased to report that the NAS incorporated significant portions of the
scientific information and field observations provided to them by Friends
of the Kennebec Salmon into their final report.
We hope the NAS reports will put to rest one of the most shameful periods
in Maine's history.
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