Presumpscot Falls, Presumpscot River, Falmouth, Maine, October 2002. This falls has been submerged by various dam impoundments since 1735.
17. Analysis of the impacts of unnatural outflows from Sebago Lake on the native migratory fish and aquatic habitat of the lower Presumpscot River.

The October 2002 removal of the Smelt Hill Dam at the head of the tide on the Presumpscot River has restored approx. 7 miles of the lower Presumpscot River to its natural channel configurations and restored access for native migratory fish species to this portion of the Presumpscot River. These native species include Atlantic salmon, American shad, Alewife, blueback herring, rainbow smelt, tomcod, American eel, Sea lamprey, anadromous brook trout, striped bass and sturgeon. Seasonal outflows from Sebago Lake, as regulated by the Eel Weir Dam, greatly influence flow volume in the lower Presumpscot River, since most the Sebago/Presumpscot watershed is located above the Eel Weir dam.

Prior to the removal of the Smelt Hill Dam in 2002, the impact of highly regulated outflows from Sebago Lake on the Presumpscot River was not analyzed by FERC or other regulatory agencies, primarily because prior to 2002 virtually the entire Presumpscot River consisted of artificial dam impoundments and access to the river by native migratory fish species was blocked by numerous dams on the river. FERC (1997) recognized the need for minimum summer flows in the Presumpscot River, but only those required by the Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection to prevent violations of Maine water quality standards in the Smelt Hill Dam impoundment resulting from wastewater discharges from the S.D. Warren paper pulping facility in Westbrook, Maine. This pulping facility was closed in July, 1999 and its wastewater is no longer discharged into the Presumpscot River.

Discussion in FERC (1997) clearly shows that at that time no consideration was given to the impacts of the approved lake-level management plan, and resulting Sebago Lake outflows, on the native migratory fish species of the lower Presumpscot River that are now undergoing restoration via the removal of the Smelt Hill Dam in 2002. The existing lake level management plan allows S.D. Warren and the State of Maine to severely curtail outflows at Sebago Lake during the spring in order to allow the lake to meet its "full pond" level in May. In the spring of 2001, outflows at Sebago Lake were reduced to "emergency minimums" to allow the lake to re-fill and meet its May "full pond" target. These April and May 2001 flows were far below those occurring on nearby unregulated rivers (ie. the Royal) and were similar to flows normally seen during July and August.

At present, outflows from Sebago Lake are regulated without regard for their impact on the Presumpscot River, the natural hydrograph of Sebago Lake and the Presumpscot River, or in recognition that Sebago Lake and the Presumpscot River were historically a completely interconnected and interrelated watershed. With the removal of the Smelt Hill Dam in 2002 and restoration of the lower seven miles of the Presumpscot River to its natural condition, the impacts of the unnatural lake-level management of Sebago Lake on the lower Presumpscot River must be considered in this EIS.

Of primarily importance are the impacts of unnaturally low spring outflows from Sebago Lake on the habitat, migration cues and passage ability of native Presumpscot River migratory fish in the lower river. Removal of the Smelt Hill Dam in 2002 revealed a significant natural ledge drop (Presumpscot Falls) in the lower Presumpscot River. If outflows from Sebago Lake are kept unnaturally low during the spring to meet lake-level targets, these falls could become impassable to native migratory fish in the lower river and prevent their restoration to their native habitat in the Presumpscot River. All available evidence shows that the Presumpscot, like all Maine rivers, exhibits a high flow volume with the onset of snow melt and spring rains that tapers off toward late May and June. At present, this high spring flow is shunted from the river solely to meet the artificial and arbitrarily established "full pond" target for Sebago Lake as set forth in FERC (1997).

The impact of this highly artificial flow management on the native migratory fish species of the Presumpscot River has never before been analyzed by FERC or any other regulatory agencies. This needs to be done.

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Presumpscot Falls, Presumpscot River, Falmouth, Maine, October 2002. This falls has been submerged by various dam impoundments since 1735.17. Analysis of the impacts of unnatural outflows from Sebago Lake on the native migratory fish and aquatic habitat of the lower Presumpscot River.

Presumpscot Falls, Presumpscot River, Falmouth, Maine, October 2002. This falls has been submerged by various dam impoundments since 1735.
17. Analysis of the impacts of unnatural outflows from Sebago Lake on the native migratory fish and aquatic habitat of the lower Presumpscot River.