Alewives return to part of Maine river for first time in nearly 300 years

For the first time in nearly three centuries, alewives are returning to a part of the Presumpscot River.

MALLISON FALLS DAM ON THEWINDHAM-GORHAM LINE.---WATER NATS---(10-28- 57)(MICHAELSHAUGHNESSY/ PRESIDENT,FRIENDS OF THE PRESUMPSCOTRIVER)"THE GOAL WASALWAYS TO GET THE FISH UPHERE BUT TO SEE THAT MANY(BUTT TO 10-29- 08) THAT WASVERY EXCITG.INFOR MICHAELSHAUGHNESSY,,, THE SIGHTOF ALL THOSE MANY FISH ,,'SEA RUN' ALEWIFES ---MEANS SUCCESS.PRESIDENT OF FRIENDS OFTHE PRESUMPSCOT RIVER,,IT'S THE LATESTREALIZATION IN THE GRO'S UPNEARLY 30-YEAR EFFORT TORESTORE THIS RIVER,,,(10-33-58)(SHAUGHNESSY)"BUT IT'S NOT DONEYET, YOU CAN SEE THE FISH UPHERE AT THE BASE OF THESEFALLS TELL US THAT THEY'REGOING TO GUPO , THERE'S GOODSPAWNING GROUND UP ABOVETHIS."NOT FOR NEARLY 3-HUNDREDYEARS,, 1730,, HE SAYS,HAVE ALEWIFES MADE IT ALLTHE WAY TO THE MALLISONDAM,, ABOUT 15- MILES FROMCASCO Y.BATHAT WAS ONLY MADEPOSSIBLE WITH THE REVAMOLOF DAMS AND THEINSTALLATION OF FISHLADDERS,,,, E THLATEST ATWESTBROOKS SACCAPPA RAFALLS -- THIS STATE OF THEART FISH WAY BUILT BY THESAPPI PAPER COMPANYCOMPLETED JUST THIS YEAR.(10-31-29)(SHAUGHNESS Y)"THIS IS THE FIRSTYEAR ANY FISH HAVE BEEN ABLETO GET PAST SACCARAPPA ."(10-37-38) (ROBSANFORD/FRIENDS OF THEPRESUMPSCOT RIVER)"AS THE DAMS START TOCOME OUT AND THE FLOWINCREASES WITH GREATERFLUXUATION, THIS RIVER ISWORKING ITS WAY BACK TO WHATIT HAD ORIGINALLY EVOLVETO BE WHICH IS A COLD WATERFISHERIES WITH ANADROMOUSFISH AND PEOE PLCO-EXISTING WITH THA" T.FISH COUNTINWIG LLSOON BEGIN AT SACCARRA,,PAAND THAT WILL DETERMINEWHEN OR IF,, THIS DAM ISREMOVED OR FH ISLADDERS PUTIN..(10-31-45)(SHAUGHNESSY)"BUT THIS IS AREAL GLYOOD SIGN HAVING ALLTHESE FISH UP HERE,, WHICHLOOKS LIKE THERE'STHOUSANDS OF THEM HERE ."IT'S TAKEN NEARLY THREEDECADES OF NEGOTIATIS ONEVEN A SUPREME COURT RULG INFOR THE FISH TO REACHMALLISON FALLS,,,,,EVENTUALLY FRIENDS OF E THPRESUMPSCOT HOPESTHERE'LL BCLE EAR PASSE AGALL THE WAY UP RIVER.... BUTADMITTEDLY,, THAT COULD BEEVEN MANY MORE DECADESAWAY ..(10-33-37)(SHAUGHNESSY)"THIS IS A SUCCESS TO GETTHEM THIS FAR SO IT'S ININCREMENTAL SUCCESS SETHEIR MOVING UP STREAM,ONCE THEY GET TO THE NEXTPLACE THAN THAT'S THE NEXTCHALLENGE."AT ONE POINT IN TIME THEPRESUMPSCOT S WACONSIDERED THE MOST DAMMEDRIVER IN THE IN THE UNITEDSTAT