It was a rare case of FERC overriding the desire of a dam owner to continue producing power. Within a year after the dam was removed, the river was healthy, shortnosed sturgeon returned in large numbers. Healthy water insects came back. The river went from Class C to Class B almost overnight. The water quality is far superior.
Rivers are a vital resource for the whole area.
We are full of water, water that could use some improvement. Key to a successful return of salmon is the status of Cumberland Mills Dam, the one right at the paper mill. Because there is no hydro plant there, FERC has no control. The state may have no power to order it removed, but does have the authority to order the building of fish passages of some kind. Those would allow some salmon and other fish to get around the dam and make it up the river.