Projects

Fish Passage Barrier Survey

During the summer of 2008, the Council participated in a Barrier Survey of the entire Sheepscot watershed with Maine Department of Marine Resources, Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association, and USFWS.  Over 200 road culverts and dams were surveyed or visited.  The preliminary analysis shows that over 70 sites are "severe" fish passage barriers.  The Council is working to develop a long-term plan to address these barriers, and will meet with town officials this winter to discuss survey results.  The Council is planning to conduct additional stream surveys in the summer of 2009, and hopes to begin restoration projects in the summer of 2010.  Once the analysis is completed in the spring of 2009, the survey report will be available in the Documents section of this website.

Habitat Protection

The Palermo erosion project is an effort to reduce sedimentation that threatens salmon nursery habitat.  The concern is the volume of sediment loading in a section of the Sheepscot River that serves as prime Atlantic salmon spawning habitat.  Remediation alternatives, if pursued, will be considered by a broad group of stakeholders and landowners after determinations are conclusive.

Fish Passage and Water Supply

The Coopers Mills Dam project reflects an interest in meeting community needs for water storage, safety concerns of a failing dam, and the need to provide fish passage for native migratory fish. The Council facilitated the exchange of information by providing an assessment of needs, identifying alternatives and assisting community leaders in identifying potential funding sources.  For several reports on Coopers Mills Dam see the Documents section of this website.

Water Quality and Fish Restoration

The Kennebec Soil and Water Conservation District, the Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association, and the Council completed the Sheepscot River Watershed Management Plan in 2007 (available here).  The plan provides a summary of water quality reports, public concerns and values with respect to the watershed, recommendations, and implementation strategies.

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Other on-going projects include water quality monitoring, educational events, consulting with landowners and towns on land use issues and other watershed-related concerns, and assisting in fish surveys and river restoration efforts.

Please contact us with projects that might benefit from agency assistance, volunteer help, public involvement, technical expertise, or funding.