Rivers of the NortheastRivers of the Northeast

Management, Development & Management, Development & Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impacts

Maggie Callaway & Greg HencirMaggie Callaway & Greg Hencir

Presentation Overview?Presentation Overview?

Geography of the NortheastGeography of the Northeast What Effects the Environment of These What Effects the Environment of These

Rivers? Rivers? Northeastern Dams and Their UsesNortheastern Dams and Their Uses Case StudiesCase Studies

Kennebec River WatershedKennebec River Watershed Connecticut River WatershedConnecticut River Watershed

What Threatens These River What Threatens These River Environments?Environments?

Agricultural & Residential Agricultural & Residential RunoffRunoff

Industrial & Urban CentersIndustrial & Urban Centers Multipurpose Dams:Multipurpose Dams:

HydropowerHydropower Flood protectionFlood protection NavigationNavigation Reservoirs/ImpoundmentReservoirs/Impoundment

Case StudyCase Study::The Kennebec WatershedThe Kennebec Watershed

The Edwards Dam Removal:The Edwards Dam Removal: Why it was removed?Why it was removed?

CostCost BenefitsBenefits

(e.g. Anadromous fish)(e.g. Anadromous fish)

Why is this event important?Why is this event important?

Case StudyCase Study::The Connecticut River The Connecticut River

WatershedWatershed

A Tradition of AbuseA Tradition of Abuse Discovery & SettlementDiscovery & Settlement Development & Development &

IndustrializationIndustrialization Emerging ProblemsEmerging Problems

Industry and Power FacilitiesIndustry and Power Facilities Agricultural and Residential Agricultural and Residential

RunoffRunoff Decaying Structures (e.g. mines)Decaying Structures (e.g. mines) Recreational BoatingRecreational Boating

(Marinas & Yacht Basins)(Marinas & Yacht Basins) Dams & CanalsDams & Canals Disappearing Fish & WildlifeDisappearing Fish & Wildlife

(e.g. Atlantic Salmon, Osprey)(e.g. Atlantic Salmon, Osprey)

DamsDams

1000+ Dams1000+ Dams (High Head and Run of River)(High Head and Run of River)

Construction: 1850s-Construction: 1850s-TodayToday

Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

““The Most Beautifully The Most Beautifully Landscaped Cesspool I’ve Ever Landscaped Cesspool I’ve Ever

Seen”Seen” Clean UpClean Up Connecticut River Coordinating CommitteeConnecticut River Coordinating Committee Clean Water Acts (1972, 1977)Clean Water Acts (1972, 1977) Private OrganizationsPrivate Organizations

(e.g. Nature Conservancy, Audubon Society)(e.g. Nature Conservancy, Audubon Society) ImprovementsImprovements

Classification from D to BClassification from D to B An American Heritage RiverAn American Heritage River

Continued ProblemsContinued Problems Increasing Recreational ActivityIncreasing Recreational Activity Non-point source pollution continues to be a problemNon-point source pollution continues to be a problem

In Conclusion…In Conclusion… Northeastern river environments were Northeastern river environments were

greatly abused prior to the mid-twentieth greatly abused prior to the mid-twentieth centurycentury

Environmental awareness and action has Environmental awareness and action has restored many rivers since that timerestored many rivers since that time

Although river systems have greatly Although river systems have greatly improved, the problems are not fully improved, the problems are not fully resolved and additional effort is needed resolved and additional effort is needed to be done to be done