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Maine Conservation Projects

	RESTORING FISH PASSAGE AT THE SEBASTICOOK The Sebasticook River is the largest tributary to the Kennebec River, joining at Waterville, Maine. Historically, this productive river has supported large runs of sea-run fish species, including alewife, American shad, and Atlantic salmon. An ambitious project supported by Wildlife Forever is restoring fish passage throughout the 28 miles of the Sebasticook River, including the removal of several old dams. With Wildlife Forever’s assistance, the Old Guilford Dam in the Town of Newport was removed in preparation for the production of approximately 1 million juvenile alewives per year at Sebasticook Lake, which has been inaccessible to andromous fish since the 19th century.
	SPARING MAINE COASTAL ISLANDS FROM DEVELOPMENT Two islands in the middle of Maine’s Spednic Lake have a new lease on life, thanks to quick action by Wildlife Forever. Birch Island and Little Birch Island fell under the shadows of “for sale” signs and developers were already planning to build resort homes on these important island landmarks. The islands are a widely recognized national fishing treasure and have been used for generations by anglers. The islands are also home for many ospreys and bald eagles. Birch Island and Little Birch Island are near the U.S. border with New Brunswick. The Woodie Wheaton Land Trust purchased the islands with the help of Wildlife Forever and have since transferred the islands to the state of Maine. The deeds have restrictive covenants ensuring that the islands are preserved in their natural state and managed by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
	DOWNEAST MAINE FORESTRY PARTNERSHIP: 27,000 ACRES AND COUNTING As 2004 came to a close, Wildlife Forever and our partners, the New England Forestry Foundation and the Downeast Lakes Land Trust, took the first step in a monumental conservation project. . . the purchase of more than 27,000 acres in Downeast Maine. The next step is creating conservation easements on better than 300,000 acres. The recent purchase will protect for all time the lands and waters to the southwest of West Grand Lake. The project area is home to world-class smallmouth bass fishing and land-locked salmon. Other species that will benefit are bald eagles, moose, deer, black bear and over 130 species of song birds and waterfowl. By purchasing the development rights to the land in the form of easements, the magnificent landscape will remain sustainable working forests, protecting the local economy and ensuring that public access for fishing, hunting, camping, wildlife watching will forever be available.
	150,000 ATLANTIC SALMON STOCKED Your donations were used to support the restoration of Atlantic salmon in Maine. In response to the decline of Maine’s native Atlantic salmon populations, the Saco River Salmon Club built a low-cost, locally run fish hatchery. In its very first year, the hatchery successfully raised over 150,000 Atlantic salmon from eggs to feeding fry. These were released into the Saco River. The hatchery is capable of producing up to 1.2 million fry at full capacity. The Saco River basin includes 900 square miles in New Hampshire and more than 800 square miles in Maine. Wildlife Forever’s $7,000 challenge grant was used to support day-to-day operations. You can take a virtual tour of the salmon hatchery online at the Club’s web site.