Wild salmon fry ... upper Presumpscot River
FERC ORDERS FISHWAYS AT PRESUMPSCOT DAMS
CASCO, MAINE -- After a three-year environmental review process, the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has ordered fishways to be constructed
at five hydro-electric dams on the Presumpscot River. The dams are owned
the SAPPI paper corporation, which operates a paper mill along the Presumpscot
River in Westbrook.
The recommendations come in the agency's Final Environmental Impact Statement,
issued on June 27, 2002. Friends of Sebago Lake and other citizens groups
have been active participants in the relicensing process since 1999.
While the agency rejected calls by Friends of Sebago Lake and others for
removal of three of the dams, FERC also rejected arguments by SAPPI that
fishways are not warranted at any of its dams. The dams, located in Westbrook,
Windham and Gorham, have blocked migrating fish in the Presumpscot River
for more than a century.
In its 300 page report, FERC stated: "In the early 1600s, the Presumpscot
River supported populations of Atlantic salmon, American shad, river herring
(alewife and blueback herring), and rainbow smelt. Native American tribes
used these species for food and fertilizer. European settlers started building
mills along the river in the mid 1600s, and the first documented dam was
constructed in the 1730s."
The agency report cites the construction of dams without fishways as the
"primary" cause of the extinction of native Atlantic salmon, American
shad and river herring from the Presumpscot River above the City of Westbrook.
Based on estimates made by the Maine Department of Marine Resources and
the Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission, the Presumpscot River and its tributaries
below Sebago Lake can support populations of 300 or more Atlantic salmon;
74,000 American shad; and over 500,000 river herring (alewife and blueback
herring).
FERC rejected arguments by SAPPI that the cost of fishways would make the
five dams uneconomic to operate, stating: "If the economic viability
of a project is 'threatened' by the requirements of a new license, then
the ultimate decision of whether or not to continue to operate projects
as recommended for licensing lies with the licensee."
Under FERC's recommendations, fish passage at the five dams will be constructed
after the head-of-tide Smelt Hill Dam is removed (slated for this fall)
and fish passage is constructed at the Cumberland Mills dam in Westbrook,
which does not generate power. SAPPI also owns the Cumberland Mills dam
and has stated it will not build fish passage there. Citizens groups are
now preparing to force the company under state fish passage laws to install
a fishway at Cumberland Mills.
PRESUMPSCOT RIVER FISH PASSAGE SCHEDULE
Saccarappa Falls Dam:
Phase One Fish Passage
Upstream passage:
A Denil fish ladder to be built at the powerhouse (within two years of fish
passage at Cumberland Mills dam).
A separate fishway for juvenile eels at the dam spillway (within two years
of license issuance).
Downstream passage:
Bypass sluiceway; install trash racks at powerhouse with one inch spacing.
Turbine shutdowns in fall to protect adult eels migrating to the ocean (to
begin within 30 days of license issuance).
Phase Two Fish Passage -- After capacity of phase one fishways has been
exceeded.
Upstream Passage: Second Denil fishway at spillway. Convert first Denil
fishway to a fish elevator.
Estimated cost: $3.93 million for upstream passage facilities; $410,000
for downstream passage facilities.
Mallison Falls Dam:
Phase One Fish Passage:
Upstream passage:
A Denil fish ladder at the dam spillway (within two years after 2,960 American
shad or 18,020 blueback herring have been passed in a single season at the
Saccarappa Falls dam).
A separate fishway for juvenile American eels (within two years of license
issuance).
Downstream passage:
Install trash racks with one inch spacing, with bypass sluiceway. (when
upstream passage is built or after commencement of stocking of adult or
juvenile sea-run fish above the dam).
Turbine shutdowns for migrating adult American eels (to begin within 30
days of licensing).
Phase Two Fish Passage -- After capacity of phase one fishways has been
exceeded.
Upstream passage: Convert Denil fish ladder to a fish elevator.
Estimated cost: $1.865 million for upstream facilities. $520,000 for downstream
facilities.
Little Falls Dam:
Phase One Fish Passage
Upstream passage:
A Denil fish ladder at the dam tailrace (within two years after 2,960 American
shad or 18,020 blueback herring have been passed in a single season at the
Saccarappa Falls dam.
A separate fishway for juvenile American eels (within two years of license
issuance).
Downstream passage:
Install trash racks with one inch spacing, with bypass sluiceway (when upstream
passage is built or after commencement of stocking of adult or juvenile
sea-run fish above the dam).
Turbine shutdowns for adult American eels (to begin within 30 days of license
issuance).
Phase Two Fish Passage -- After capacity of phase one fishways has been
exceeded.
Upstream passage: Convert Denil fish ladder to a fish elevator.
Estimated cost: $2.58 million for upstream facilities. $630,000 for downstream
facilities.
Gambo Falls Dam:
Phase One Fish Passage
Upstream passage:
Fishway for juvenile American eels (within two years of license issuance).
Downstream passage:
Install trash racks with one inch spacing, with bypass sluiceway (when upstream
passage is built or after commencement of stocking of adult or juvenile
sea-run fish above the dam).
Turbine shutdowns for adult American eels (within 30 days of license issuance).
Phase Two Fish Passage -- Within two years after 620 American shad or 3,800
blueback herring have been passed at the Little Falls Dam.
Upstream passage: Fish elevator at dam spillway.
Estimated cost: $1.84 million for upstream facilities; $720,000 for downstream
facilities.
Dundee Falls Dam:
Phase One Fish Passage
Upstream passage:
Fishway for juvenile American eel (within two years of license issuance).
Downstream passage:
Turbine shutdowns for adult American eels (to begin within 30 days of license
issuance).
Phase Two Fish Passage -- Within two years after 4,020 American shad or
24,460 blueback herring are passed in a single season at the Gambo Falls
dam.
Upstream passage: Construct fish elevator at dam tailrace.
Downstream passage: Overlay screens on trash racks, with two bypass sluice
ways.
Estimated cost: $4.3 million for upstream facilities; $780,000 for downstream
facilities.
EXCERPTS FROM FERC'S FINAL PRESUMPSCOT
EIS ...
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