The Sheepscot River was once teeming with sea-run fish including Atlantic salmon, alewives, shad, lamprey, and eels but today these fish are all at less than 1% of their historical abundance. In an effort towards species recovery, the Coopers Mills Dam was removed in 2018 to restore fish passage to over 20 miles of river and 700 acres of pond habitat. The previously impounded stretch that was behind the dam is now habitat for Atlantic salmon.

The Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is the state agency responsible for conserving marine resources and implements a supplementation program throughout Maine for the recovery of Atlantic salmon. DMR quickly recognized the habitat opportunity and added the reach in Coopers Mills to their stocking program. In February, Midcoast Conservancy worked with DMR to stock 3,000 Atlantic salmon eggs above Coopers Mills. Based on research, DMR notes the overall emergence success for hatchery eggs in the Sheepscot River is 14%; wild Atlantic salmon is cited to be around 10%. For 2019, over 200,000 eggs were planted at strategic locations in the Sheepscot mainstem and the West Branch tributary. DMR initiated egg stocking efforts in the Sheepscot in 2012 and has since planted over 1.3 million eggs, averaging about 170,000 per year, the equivalent to 23 female Atlantic salmon. In addition to egg stocking, DMR also minimally stocks parr and fry— juvenile life stages of Atlantic salmon.

Every spring, DMR documents the Atlantic salmon juvenile smolts exiting the Sheepscot River by trapping in Head Tide, just below the dam. Smolts are juvenile Atlantic salmon, predominantly two years of age but varying from one to three years in age. In 2018, 229 smolts were caught; 53% of those were naturally reared from either wild salmon or egg planted salmon and the rest were from parr stocking. Based on this data, DMR estimates that over 1,600 Atlantic salmon smolts exited the Sheepscot River in 2018. The adults will make their migrant return in a few years to start the cycle again.

DMR will begin smolt trapping this year around mid-April and with the crew trapping from about 8am to 10am. The public is welcome to observe and DMR biologists are available to answer questions afterwards. Results will be posted each week at the Head Tide Dam kiosk.

The Coopers Mills dam removal was a part of a project that also included the construction of three new dry fire hydrants and enhancements to the town property including a river overlook, interpretive signage, trails, and the stabilization of the historic mill foundation walls. The work was completed in partnership with the Town of Whitefield.

The Coopers Mills project was the first phase of a multi-year initiative along the iconic Sheepscot River to improve habitat for endangered Atlantic salmon, shad, alewives and several other sea-run fish species. The initiative is a collaboration between Atlantic Salmon Federation, The Nature Conservancy, Midcoast Conservancy, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Maine Department of Marine Resources, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The next phase commences this summerat the Head Tide Dam in Alna. The broader effort includes new fish passage at the Branch Pond Mill Dam in China, the upgrade of several stream crossings, assessing fish passage at Clary Lake outlet dams in Whitefield, and the restoration of in-stream habitat in the West Branch. If you are interested in learning more about the restoration projects on the Sheepscot, contact Maranda Nemeth at Maranda@midcoastconservancy.org or 207-389-5177.