A Dam Dilemma.
- Well howdy do winter, it seems you have settled in for the long haul! Still, while frigid winds and heavy snow have made their presence known in Maine, there is big news on the Atlantic Salmon front. The Penobscot River Restoration Project made huge strides forward recently with the purchase of three key dams across along the Penobscot river, taking vital steps toward opening up over 1,000 miles of waters that have been out of reach to native species for a “coon’s age.” In Mainer speak, thats a “wicked long time bub!”
Click to Read the Full Article!
At a whopping $24 million, the Veazie, Great Works, and Howland dams were recently purchased from PPL Corp after nearly 11 years of planning and preparation. Two of the dams will be destroyed, while the third will see the installation of a state-of-the-art fish ladder. Collectively, the project will allow native species like atlantic salmon, striped bass, and american shad to migrate further up the river toward their native spawning runs.
While this is all well and good, it does raise some important questions that beg answers. What of the native brook trout and landlocked salmon that already inhabit these pristine waters? The destruction of these dams will also introduce a new devastating predator, the northern Pike. It is no secret that native brook trout are more rare now than ever before, so is sacrificing one rarity to potentially save another really worth it? I’m torn. Sadly, there is no right way to answer this question. It simply comes down to what we want more. Surely Atlantic Salmon is the heavy favorite in this fight for territory, but simply forgetting about brook trout could have us shaking our heads years down the road.
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I’m interested in what the readers have to say, so sound off! While I am in no way discounting the Penobscot River Restoration Project and it’s many benefits, I wonder if anyone in Maine truly realizes just how lucky we are to have such a healthy population of brook trout, at least compared to other states across the country. Look for update on this story as it continues to unfold.
Tight Lines,
-Ben
Snowed In
- Just a few days removed from Christmas and mother nature is pissed off. It seems she probably did not receive exactly what she wanted this year, hence the hellish winter storm that is dumping huge amounts of snow across the east coast with no signs of letting up. The governor has issued a state of emergency, schools, stores, and businesses are closed, and Maine is officially on vacation for another day.
A truck bed that was empty only a few hours earlier!
Being from northern Maine, winter storms aren’t exactly foreign to my radar screen. As the snow continued to fall and the wind gusts approached 50mph, I decided it might be fun to take a drive. Now I know what you’re thinking, and you’re probably right. I should have stayed indoors, out of the way and safe from any potential accidents or life-threatening disasters. But what fun would that be?
Old Town, Maine at 10am-early stages of the storm.
With one hand on the wheel, and the other on my camera, I set out to see what this blizzard was all about. What I found were numerous closed roads, blinding whiteouts, and every reason in the book to return home. What I didn’t find were other cars or people, which made me feel like the soul survivor of a freak apocalypse. It’s funny how remote and peaceful Maine’s largest college town feels when all cars and pedestrians are removed!
The main road was the only one plowed, I guess it's easier to just close all of the other ones...!
Today I also took advantage of an unexpected day off to learn my way around Up’North’s newest tool, the Apple iPad. What does this mean for you as a reader? Simple. More updates, more content, and more ways to enjoy Maine’s independent Fly Fishing blog. So far, posting from the iPad has proven rather difficult. While the iPad itself is extremely user friendly and enjoyable, the WordPress application leaves much to be desired. Because of this, short updates without pictures is likely all you will see from the iPad for the time being. Outside of posts, look for a revival of the Up’North Twitter Feed (located in the right sidebar) and regular fly fishing related Facebook updates available to all of Up’North’s followers. In the meantime, I will continue to explore ways to more efficiently integrate the iPad into my writing process.
Showin' some love for Cam and T.F.M on the new iPad!
For now I stay indoors, basking in the heat and enjoying hour 8 of an all day Band of Brothers marathon. As I continue to download new apps and utilize the iPad, expect more technology related posts telling of my experiences. In the meantime, stay safe and enjoy digging out of this early season blizzard!
Toasty Toes!
-Ben
Atlantic Salmon Update
- Since the announcement was made early last week, surprisingly little has come up in the news regarding the recent addition of Maine’s Atlantic Salmon to the Endangered Species List. I’ve yet to decided if this is a good or bad thing, but I do know that it’s not something that will quietly fade into the night.
Recently a single article did appear in the Bangor Daily News regarding the Industrial surroundings of the three involved Rivers. While it is unclear as to exactly how Maine’s industrial past and present will affect the recovery of Salmon, there are some interesting opinions on the subject.
Click the active photo above to read the entire B.D.N article, or click HERE.
Happy Castings,
-Ben
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