Maine
Overview
Maine is home to some of the healthiest strongholds of native eastern brook trout, as well as populations of landlocked Atlantic salmon and Arctic char, and the last of America’s wild sea-run Atlantic salmon. The wild, remote waters of the Rangeley Lakes are a destination for anglers pursuing trophy brook trout. Salter brook trout roam coastal streams, while Arctic char inhabit ponds and lakes across the state. Wild Atlantic salmon return to the Kennebec and Penobscot rivers. Across this landscape, our work focuses on protecting trout populations in western Maine’s mountains, reconnecting coastal streams and supporting the unique salter brook trout life history. On the Kennebec River, we are also working to remove dams that stand in the way of successful, self-sustaining runs of endangered wild Atlantic salmon.
Fish We're Protecting
Threats & Opportunities
Habitat fragmentation is a major threat to sea-run and landlocked Atlantic salmon, brook trout, and salter brook trout. We can help these fish thrive and recover by removing small dams and advocating for better fish passage at—or removal of—large ones, such as the four lowermost dams on the Kennebec River, which are blocking recovery of one of America’s last runs of wild, sea-run Atlantic salmon.
What We're Accomplishing
Reconnecting trout and salmon habitat by addressing barriers to fish passage.
We have partnered with the Sebago Chapter of TU and other partners to remove Edes Falls Dam, restoring access to more than 25 miles of critical spawning and nursery habitat for Sebago Lake’s wild landlocked salmon. On Frost Gully Brook in Freeport, we have worked with partners to remove three dams, reconnecting coldwater habitat and eliminating thermal barriers for resident and sea-run brook trout. Ongoing invasive species management and revegetation efforts are helping restore the stream corridor.
Enhancing stream habitat.
Working with the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust, we have restored more than five miles of stream habitat in the Kennebago River watershed through strategic wood additions. These projects are helping to reverse the impacts of historic log driving, restoring natural stream processes and improving habitat for wild brook trout and native landlocked salmon. In the Pleasant River watershed, we have partnered with the Appalachian Mountain Club and Natural Resources Conservation Service to restore 8.06 miles of stream habitat through strategic wood additions. These projects improve habitat complexity for wild brook trout and enhance some of the most inland accessible Atlantic salmon habitat.
Using sound science to inform restoration priorities.
Across multiple Priority Waters, we are conducting fish movement studies, flow and temperature monitoring, and habitat assessments to guide restoration and improve our understanding of sea-run brook trout populations. On the Ducktrap River, we are conducting a multiyear monitoring project using environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling, drone surveys and temperature monitoring to identify and prioritize Atlantic salmon and brook trout habitat and inform future restoration efforts.
Advancing Atlantic salmon recovery.
We remain an active partner in the Kennebec Coalition, a group of organizations advocating for fish passage solutions on the lower Kennebec River. Our volunteers have collaborated with the Maine Department of Marine Resources on egg-planting efforts in the Sandy River to support Atlantic salmon reproduction while continuing to improve instream habitat. We are also working with agency and nonprofit partners to improve hydropower operations and protect aquatic habitat and recreational resources in the West Branch Penobscot River, an important landlocked salmon fishery.
How You Can Help
Find you local chapter
Get connected and make a difference for priority waters in your community.
Find your chapterHelp us recover some of America’s last wild Atlantic salmon runs.
TAKE ACTIONJoin us for public tree-planting events.
Maine Conservation Team
Amy Wolfe
Northeast Coldwater Habitat Program Director
Amy.Wolfe@tu.org
Northeast Coldwater Habitat Program Director
Amy.Wolfe@tu.org
Lauren Pickford
Lauren Pickford, Maine Project Manager
Lauren Pickford, Maine Project Manager
Priority Waters
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Sea-Run Atlantic Salmon Rivers
In the pre-industrial age, wild Atlantic salmon runs in the Kennebec were estimated to top 100,000 annually. With four dams currently blocking access to prime spawning habitat in the Sandy River, today’s runs average barely 50 fish annually and the fish are listed under the Endangered Species Act. Currently, they persist thanks to extraordinary measures: adult salmon are captured at the lowermost dam and trucked to spawning habitat in the Sandy River. Partners are actively advancing fish passage and dam removal efforts throughout the Kennebec watershed to restore access to historic salmon habitat and support long-term recovery. Dams are blocking recovery efforts on two other historic wild salmon runs on the Union and Narraguagus rivers. The Narraguagus River is expected to be free-flowing from headwaters to tidewater by 2027, reconnecting critical habitat for Atlantic salmon and other sea-run fish.
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Landlocked Atlantic Salmon Waters
Wild salmon are still found in lakes, ponds and their tributaries. One is Crooked River, which provides 99 percent of the spawning habitat for the wild landlocked salmon of Sebago Lake, an important destination for anglers. The lake is one of the four original landlocked salmon waters in Maine. TU and partners have improved connectivity throughout the watershed by removing five barriers to fish passage, including the removal of Edes Falls Dam. Ongoing efforts continue to address antiquated dams and poorly designed culverts that limit access to critical spawning and rearing habitat. One major barrier remains on the Crooked River, and additional road-stream crossing projects are advancing throughout the watershed.
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Native Brook Trout Strongholds
Priorities for habitat protection will be the Western Maine mountains, the East Penobscot River, and the Aroostook River, also known as the Fish River. For salter brook trout, initial work will focus on Frost Gully and Branch brooks, as well as the Ducktrap River. Within land trust partnership tracts, the focus will be on the Pleasant, Kennebago, and Magalloway rivers, all of which are iconic fisheries.
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Arctic Char Waters
Maine is the only state in the lower 48 with Arctic char, with 14 ponds and lakes supporting wild — and fishable — populations. Several populations of the species, sometimes called blueback trout, have been extirpated in the state over the past 115 years, including in the Rangeley Lakes region. With invasive species and competing uses of these waters posing continued challenges, sound management of these unique fish is a continued priority.
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