Code of Maine Rules › 13 - DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES › 188 - MARINE RESOURCES - GENERAL › Chapter 60 - RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN › Amendment - Amendment One to the Saco River Strategic Plan for Fisheries Management

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
State of Maine
Department of Marine Resources
State House Station #21
Augusta, ME 04333-0021
The Maine Department of Marine Resources, in cooperation with
				  other state and federal agencies and a coalition of private conservation
				  groups, proposes to enter into an agreement with the Central Maine Power
				  Company concerning fish passage facilities on the Saco River. This agreement
				  establishes time tables and criteria under which upstream and downstream fish
				  passage facilities will be constructed on the main stem Saco River from
				  head-of-tide in Biddeford/Saco upstream to, and including, the Hiram Project
				  (FERC #2530). The intent of this agreement is to further the management goal
				  and objectives of
The Saco River Strategic Plan for Fisheries
				  Management
[Saco River Plan] which was adopted by the
				  Department of Marine Resources on March 25, 1988. The management goal of the
				  Saco River Plan is to manage all sport and commercial fish species of the Saco
				  River for optimum habitat utilization, abundance, and public benefit. The
				  Department of Marine Resources' objective of the Saco River Plan is to restore
				  runs of anadromous American shad and river herring to the Saco River and its
				  tributaries upstream to the base of the Hiram dam. The strategy to achieve the
				  management goal is to negotiate through the Federal Energy Regulatory
				  Commission and Maine Department of Environmental Protection hydropower
				  licensing process for the construction of upstream and downstream fish passage
				  facilities for adult and juvenile sea-run Atlantic salmon, American shad, and
				  sea-run alewives. Followup studies would be undertaken to document the
				  effectiveness of passage facilities.
In accordance with the strategy of the Saco River Plan, the
				  DMR, DEP, SPO, IF&W, ASRSC, USF&WS, NMFS, NHF&G, Cities of
				  Biddeford and Saco, and conservation groups (ASF, TU, American Rivers) have
				  been negotiating a fish passage agreement under the auspices of the Federal
				  Energy Regulatory Commission hydropower relicensing process. The major elements
				  of the fish passage agreement and status of fish passage facilities are as
				  follows:
DAM
LOCATION
UPSTREAM FISH PASSAGE STATUS
DOWNSTREAM FISH PASSAGE STATUS
Cataract & York
Saco/Biddeford
Completed & operational: May, 1993
Completed & operational: May, 1993
Springs*
Saco/Biddeford
Completed & operational: May 1, 1996
Non-generating dam;down-stream passage not required
Bradbury*
Saco/Biddeford
Completed & operational: May 1, 1997
Non-generating dam; downstream passage not required
Skelton+
Dayton/Buxton
Completed & operational: May 1, 1998, or within
							 3yrs of date of New License from FERC, whichever is later
Same date/conditions as upstream passage
Bar Mills
Buxton/Hollis
Bar Mills, West Buxton, Bonny Eagle & Hiram to be
							 treated as a group with the timing and site of upstream passage to be
							 recommended by state/federal fisheries agencies based on progress of fish
							 restoration as measured by criteria developed jointly by fisheries agencies and
							 other
Interim passage provided now. Permanent passage within
							 2yrs of receipt of FERC License Amendment.
West Buxton
Buxton/Hollis
parties to the Agreement. Assessments to be conducted
							 every 4yrs beginning in 1999 and progressing through 2011. Upstream passage at
							 the first of the four dams not to be operational earlier than May 1, 2005. Fish
							 passage construction to be spaced no less than 2yrs apart at each dam. Trap
							 & truck to continue from Skelton under fish agencies' supervision
							 until
Same as Bar Mills
Bonny Eagle
Hollis/Standish
passage is provided at dams.
Interim passage provided now. Permanent passage within
							 2yrs of receipt of FERC License Amendment.
Hiram
Hiram/Baldwin
For salmon only
Not later than 2yrs following scheduled annual
							 production stocking of Atlantic salmon above Hiram dam
Swans Falls
Fryeburg
For salmon only. Fish passage construction may be
							 scheduled concurrently with Hiram fish passage.
Same as Hiram
*Depending on the results of fish behavior studies in 1994,
				  the Springs and Bradbury fish passage dates may be transposed.
+Fish lift with trap & truck facilities for interim
				  trap/truck program above dams upstream of Skelton
The Department of Marine Resources, in cooperation with other
				  state and federal agencies and conservation groups, intends to carry out this
				  cooperative fish restoration program with the Central Maine Power Company to
				  the extent that funds are provided for that purpose. The DMR will develop shad
				  and alewife stocking schedules for the Saco River and provide input on
				  CMP-funded studies of upstream and downstream passage efficiency at Saco River
				  dams, analysis of returning adult anadromous fish populations, and cooperative
				  assessments of the progress of anadromous fish restoration on the Saco River.
				  In addition, the DMR will, in consultation with other state/federal agencies,
				  recommend further fish passage facilities as necessary to meet our objectives
				  of restoring shad and alewives to the Saco River.