HOULTON, Maine — In the summer of 2014, the Meduxnekeag River from Lowery Bridge to the Covered Bridge became a new river.
It changed from an empty desert for fish to a river that has “structure.” This structure is part of what a river needs to be healthy.
Now, like other natural streams, it has rocks that the water moves over and around adding oxygen to the water for fish as it does so. It has trees and logs creating cover for fish to hide from predators. The water flows faster in the channel which will help keep it from heating up. This is important because fish native to northern Maine thrive in cold water.
According to Cara O’Donnell, water resources specialist for the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, video from an underwater “gopro” camera show trout are spending time around the new structures.
HBMI received funds from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture to install these structures. Maine Departments of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and Environmental Protection, and many of the landowners who own property along the river’s edge supported the project.
Unfortunately, many stretches of the Meduxnekeag remain wide and open streams. This is true of many streams in The County. Their natural structures were removed in the 1800’s for log drives.
Slated for mid-August, HBMI is replacing lost structures on another stretch of river in the North Branch of the Meduxnekeag River in Monticello with most of the partners that supported work on the river below Lowery Bridge including their expert in river science, John Field. This project will cover a little more than half a mile of the North Branch looking west from the Route One Bridge and is funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“We plan to continue working to make the Meduxnekeag River and its tributaries a place where cold water fish like trout can thrive” says Sharri Venno, environmental planner with HBMI. “Part of the North Branch project includes the stretch of river along Monticello Fish and Game Club property. They are providing a staging area for the boulders and trees that will eventually be placed in the river with the goal of increasing their opportunity to fish. We’ve also found better ways to make sure trees and logs we place in the river stay there, especially during ice-out.”
Helena is a District Conservationist with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. She works in the agency’s Houlton office and can be contacted at (207) 532-2087 x103 or Helena.Swiatek@me.usda.gov
