I ate lunch and sat on a bench overlooking the Kennebec River last week and watched local recreational fishermen try their luck off a boat launch and nearby docks. Sunny weather and absent winds contributed to the water’s glassy appearance.
SPLASH
An enormous sturgeon leaped out of the water within 20 feet of my bench and I drew back my hands as if it was about to steal my chicken caesar wrap or flop in my direction.
I had never seen a fish in the wild bigger than one or two feet in length. In fact, few people see sturgeon in the wild anymore, making the Kennebec a very special and important habitat for this anadromous fish.
The Kennebec is also home to another threatened species: Atlantic salmon. The Sun Journal reported today that a lawsuit filed by Friends of Merrymeeting Bay and Environment Maine will likely be heard and decided by federal Judge George Singal. The suit pits both environmental groups against Miller Hydro (owner of Worumbo Dam) and Topsham Hydro (operator of the Pejepscot Dam). Friends of Merrymeeting Bay and Environment Maine argue that Miller Hydro and Topsham Hydro are violating the Endangered Species Act because their turbines injure and kill Atlantic salmon.
The case puts Maine rivers and the importance of preserving Maine’s natural legacy back in the public spotlight. I hope that the case continues to gain publicity so that Mainer’s take some time to reflect on their genuinely special surroundings.
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