Presumpscot River Stakeholders Plan:The Future of a Changing River

Prepared by

The Presumpscot River Plan Steering Committee

With Funding and Assistance from:

Casco Bay Estuary Project and EPA Region 1

Intro: BackgroundIntro: Background Casco Bay Estuary Project for Presumpscott River initiated in the Spring Casco Bay Estuary Project for Presumpscott River initiated in the Spring

of 2000of 2000 Largest freshwater resource to Casco BayLargest freshwater resource to Casco Bay Presumpscot was the site of Maine’s first pulp mill, first hydroelectric Presumpscot was the site of Maine’s first pulp mill, first hydroelectric

project, only significant canal and largest gunpowder mill, no other river project, only significant canal and largest gunpowder mill, no other river in Maine has had virtually all its hydraulic head captured behind damsin Maine has had virtually all its hydraulic head captured behind dams

Impact from dams on fisheries has been a concern since the 1700’s, by Impact from dams on fisheries has been a concern since the 1700’s, by 1950’s the condition of the river reached its all time low, treatment plants 1950’s the condition of the river reached its all time low, treatment plants reduced pollutant discharges following Clean Water Act but non-point reduced pollutant discharges following Clean Water Act but non-point sources of pollution increasedsources of pollution increased

Interest started in 1992 when Maine Department of Inland Fisheries Interest started in 1992 when Maine Department of Inland Fisheries successfully reestablished a trout and salmon fishery just below Sebago successfully reestablished a trout and salmon fishery just below Sebago Lake and after plans for the removal of Smelt Hill Dam and improvements Lake and after plans for the removal of Smelt Hill Dam and improvements in water quality from cessation of SAPPI Fine Paper’s pulp mill. in water quality from cessation of SAPPI Fine Paper’s pulp mill. Development pressure increased after removal of the pulp mill since the Development pressure increased after removal of the pulp mill since the stench and unattractiveness of living near a pulp mill was also removed. stench and unattractiveness of living near a pulp mill was also removed.

Originates at Sebago Lake; Maine’s second largest lake, supplies greater Originates at Sebago Lake; Maine’s second largest lake, supplies greater Portland area with water, originally the river was a rushing river with Portland area with water, originally the river was a rushing river with many falls and rapids, abundant fish life, now it is slow moving and does many falls and rapids, abundant fish life, now it is slow moving and does not support as much wildlife not support as much wildlife

Focus on Presumpscot River and adjacent river corridor lands and some Focus on Presumpscot River and adjacent river corridor lands and some tributaries, does not address Sebago Lake levels tributaries, does not address Sebago Lake levels

Sebago Lake

Casco Bay

27 miles long

Removed in 2002

Deepest lake in New England, one of the cleanest in the state

ProblemsProblems Clearing of land and draining or filling wetlands Clearing of land and draining or filling wetlands

for agriculture: 16% of the land is farmlandfor agriculture: 16% of the land is farmland Timber harvesting for fuel wood, lumber, Timber harvesting for fuel wood, lumber,

shipbuilding, pulp and papershipbuilding, pulp and paper Extraction of sand and gravelExtraction of sand and gravel Development of settlementsDevelopment of settlements Construction of roads, canals, railroadsConstruction of roads, canals, railroads Industrial development, dams for powerIndustrial development, dams for power Use by industries and municipitalities for waste Use by industries and municipitalities for waste

disposaldisposal

Impacts to Water Impacts to Water ResourcesResources

8 dams: fragmented habitat, fast 8 dams: fragmented habitat, fast flowing water converted to flowing water converted to impoundments, anadromous fish blockedimpoundments, anadromous fish blocked

5 waste water discharges: reduce water 5 waste water discharges: reduce water qualityquality

31% of lower watershed is now 31% of lower watershed is now developeddeveloped

16% of lower watershed is agricultural 16% of lower watershed is agricultural Flow regimes alteredFlow regimes altered

Changes in Water Changes in Water QualityQuality

Basin was originally forested, original water Basin was originally forested, original water quality was very similar to Sebago Lake, its quality was very similar to Sebago Lake, its sourcesource

In 2001, Portland Water District’s draft of In 2001, Portland Water District’s draft of the Lake report noted that Lake Sebago has the Lake report noted that Lake Sebago has outstanding water qualityoutstanding water quality

Impacts of waste discharges, watershed Impacts of waste discharges, watershed development, and damming include:development, and damming include: Increased TSS, increased dissolved solids, Increased TSS, increased dissolved solids,

lowered DO, increased bacteria levels, shift to lowered DO, increased bacteria levels, shift to pollution-tolerant organisms, elevated pollution-tolerant organisms, elevated temperaturetemperature

Below Westbrook, 60% chance of meeting Class Below Westbrook, 60% chance of meeting Class B for WQS for aquatic lifeB for WQS for aquatic life

Changes in Aquatic Changes in Aquatic HabitatHabitat

Increased temperature from Increased temperature from development and slowing of water, development and slowing of water, switch from native cold water switch from native cold water species (trout) to warm non-native species (trout) to warm non-native species (bass)species (bass)

Sedimentation: aquatic community Sedimentation: aquatic community shifts to organisms more tolerant of shifts to organisms more tolerant of turbid water, overall abundance of turbid water, overall abundance of organisms decreases organisms decreases

Put and take salmon and trout fishery

The rest is only suitable for bass and panfish

Also impacts on wetlands, Also impacts on wetlands, terrestrial resources, terrestrial resources,

endangered species and endangered species and estuarine habitat estuarine habitat Reduction in diversity and Reduction in diversity and

productivity or floodplain from less productivity or floodplain from less frequent floodingfrequent flooding

Loss of wetlands from drainingLoss of wetlands from draining Fragmentation of wildlife travel Fragmentation of wildlife travel

corridors, reduction of wildlife corridors, reduction of wildlife populationspopulations

Loss of habitat for endangered Loss of habitat for endangered speciesspecies

The Steering CommitteeThe Steering Committee Presumpscot River Management Plan Steering Presumpscot River Management Plan Steering

Committee composed of federal, state, and local Committee composed of federal, state, and local government agencies, businesses, conservation government agencies, businesses, conservation organizations and other interested groupsorganizations and other interested groups

Goal: to work cooperatively to develop a plan for the future of Goal: to work cooperatively to develop a plan for the future of the river, and to develop recommendations that work for all the river, and to develop recommendations that work for all interestsinterests

Purposes:Purposes: 1. to develop a comprehensive and unified plan with management 1. to develop a comprehensive and unified plan with management

objectives to guide future actions and decision that impact the objectives to guide future actions and decision that impact the riverriver

2. to identify opportunities for supporting continued improvements 2. to identify opportunities for supporting continued improvements to the health of the river and its tributaries, and for capitalizing in to the health of the river and its tributaries, and for capitalizing in the potential of a healthy river ecosystem for providing a diversity the potential of a healthy river ecosystem for providing a diversity if public benefits, including recreational, educational and if public benefits, including recreational, educational and economic benefits; in balance with the benefits of renewable economic benefits; in balance with the benefits of renewable hydropower energy hydropower energy

Focus AreasFocus Areas

Cumulative Impacts to the RiverCumulative Impacts to the River Fisheries Conditions and Fisheries Conditions and

OpportunitiesOpportunities Open Space Conditions and Open Space Conditions and

OpportunitiesOpportunities Steering Committee worked for 2 Steering Committee worked for 2

years to develop information and years to develop information and proposed objectives for these focus proposed objectives for these focus areas areas

Cumulative Impacts to Cumulative Impacts to Environmental Conditions on the Environmental Conditions on the

Presumpscot River and its Presumpscot River and its Shorelands: Options for Shorelands: Options for

addressing Cumulative Impactsaddressing Cumulative Impacts

Options for addressing Options for addressing cumulative impactscumulative impacts

Protecting and Enhancing Protecting and Enhancing Open Space Along the Open Space Along the

Presumpscot RiverPresumpscot River Open space is what Maine has going for it! Open space is what Maine has going for it!

Important to the Maine way of life.Important to the Maine way of life. Presumpscot is in a part of Maine that is losing Presumpscot is in a part of Maine that is losing

open space at a rapid rateopen space at a rapid rate Protecting open space is critical for:Protecting open space is critical for:

Fish and aquatic life. Riparian open space Fish and aquatic life. Riparian open space filter runoff from the land, protects waters filter runoff from the land, protects waters from sedimentation, maintains cool water from sedimentation, maintains cool water temperatures, and contributes organic matter temperatures, and contributes organic matter to the aquatic food baseto the aquatic food base

Wildlife: Riparian open space provides habitat Wildlife: Riparian open space provides habitat used by 80% of Maine’s terrestrial vertebrate used by 80% of Maine’s terrestrial vertebrate species at some time during their lifestylespecies at some time during their lifestyle

Wildlife and Fish Habitat Wildlife and Fish Habitat ValuesValues

Well vegetated open space corridors along river or stream Well vegetated open space corridors along river or stream have special value as wildlife habitat:have special value as wildlife habitat: A unique edge habitatA unique edge habitat Importance to aquatic habitatsImportance to aquatic habitats Importance to birdsImportance to birds Dear yardsDear yards 80% if Maine’s terrestrial vertebrate wildlife species 80% if Maine’s terrestrial vertebrate wildlife species

use riparian areas to meet their habitat needs at use riparian areas to meet their habitat needs at some point in their lifesome point in their life

Coalition of planning and conservation organizations:Coalition of planning and conservation organizations: Maine Audobon Society, Maine Department of Maine Audobon Society, Maine Department of Conservation, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Conservation, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Maine State Planning Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Maine State Planning Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wells National Estuarine Research Office, Wildlife Service, Wells National Estuarine Research Office, Maine Coastal Program, USGS, Southern Maine Regional Maine Coastal Program, USGS, Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission, and The Nature ConservancyPlanning Commission, and The Nature Conservancy

Maine already has a lot of Maine already has a lot of open space: a rare open space: a rare

opportunity for opportunity for preservationpreservation

Open Space for Open Space for RecreationRecreation

Boating, canoeing, kayakingBoating, canoeing, kayaking SwimmingSwimming FishingFishing HuntingHunting Wildlife observation and bird watchingWildlife observation and bird watching WalkingWalking BicyclingBicycling Skiing and snowshoeingSkiing and snowshoeing Historical studyHistorical study Educational activitiesEducational activities SnowmobilingSnowmobiling Enjoying the peace and quiet!Enjoying the peace and quiet! Communing with natureCommuning with nature Spiritual renewal!!Spiritual renewal!!

Methods to Preserve Methods to Preserve Open SpaceOpen Space

Methods to preserve Methods to preserve open spaceopen space

Methods to preserve Methods to preserve open spaceopen space

Recommendations and Recommendations and Strategies: identified by Strategies: identified by

steering committeesteering committee

Visions for the FutureVisions for the Future

As far at Cumberland Mills Dam could As far at Cumberland Mills Dam could supports runs of 13,000 shad, 78,000 supports runs of 13,000 shad, 78,000 blueback herring, 20 to 100 Atlantic blueback herring, 20 to 100 Atlantic Salmon and up to 20,000 alewivesSalmon and up to 20,000 alewives

Most of the area remains undeveloped, Most of the area remains undeveloped, extensive opportunities to preserve extensive opportunities to preserve open space, time is limited as open space, time is limited as development pressure is increasingdevelopment pressure is increasing