The Edwards Dam was built in 1837. It provided the power to run nine mills and a machine shop. In the mean time, the dam had changed the river. It blocked fish migration, flooded wildlife habitats, and degraded water quality. So the state of Maine decided to remove the dam.
Rapids return that have been under water, and silt-filled reservoirs empty.
Removing the Edwards Dam opened up 17 miles of spawning water for salmon that have been closed to them for 160 years. As fish populations return, so will the eagles, osprey, kingfishers and other wildlife that depend on a healthy river. That's our show for today. With thanks to The National Science Foundation, we're Block and Byrd for Earth and Sky.