Authorities guidelines final wild Atlantic salmon in nation can coexist with Maine’s hydroelectric dams

The federal authorities dominated Monday that the final wild Atlantic salmon within the nation can coexist with hydroelectric dams on a Maine river, dealing a blow to environmentalists who’ve lengthy sought to take away the dams.

The salmon, as soon as plentiful within the U.S., now return to just a few Maine rivers. One is the Kennebec River, dammed by Brookfield Renewable Power Companions. The Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stated Monday that the dams are usually not prone to jeopardize the continued existence of the salmon if conservation measures are taken.

Conservation measures alongside Brookfield’s 4 Kennebec dams are designed to enhance fish passages and would require an funding of greater than $100 million by Brookfield, NOAA stated. The dam upgrades would enable the salmon to swim up the Kennebec from the Atlantic Ocean to freshwater inland habitats for the primary time for the reason that building of the dams within the 19th century, the company stated.

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The company reviewed the dams as a result of Brookfield is looking for to relicense one in every of them and amend the licenses for 3 others, stated NOAA spokesperson Allison Ferreira. NOAA stated in an announcement that it’s going to “oversee an intensive monitoring program to make sure that the dams meet the expectations of improved fish passage within the Kennebec River.”

NOAA’s opinion “is a crucial milestone in guaranteeing that these services can proceed to help Maine’s clear vitality future and conventional industries alongside the decrease Kennebec River,” stated David Heidrich, a spokesperson for Brookfield.

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Nevertheless, environmental teams stated the dams threaten extinction of the salmon, and NOAA’s ruling is shortsighted. Additionally they stated the dams endanger different susceptible species of fish, similar to sturgeon.

The dams’ detrimental impacts on salmon are a violation of the Endangered Species Act, stated the Kennebec Coalition, an alliance of a number of environmental teams supporting dam removing, in an announcement. They argue that along with blocking entry to key spawning habitat, the dams additionally create hazardous circumstances for this fish.

“Removing of those dams gives the very best likelihood to forestall Atlantic salmon from changing into extinct, whereas additionally persevering with the restoration of a vibrant, wholesome Kennebec River,” the assertion stated.

Atlantic salmon populations within the U.S. fell into the lots of resulting from elements similar to overfishing and habitat loss, in response to NOAA. They have been listed underneath the Endangered Species Act for over twenty years.

Conservationists and Native American tribes have for years made the case that Brookfield has not fulfilled its obligations to guard the remaining salmon.

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