Our Campaign

Penobscot River Restoration Project

The restoration of the Penobscot River is an unprecedented and innovative effort to remove two dams and build a state-of-the-art fish bypass around a third. As a result, hundreds of miles of habitat along the Penobscot and its tributaries will be re-opened for sea-run fish, with tremendous benefits to biological and human communities along the river.

Thanks to your support, this effort has had remarkable success. It's a continuing story, with many chapters closed and many more to come. Be a part of this history-making conservation achievement.

Press Releases:

Penobscot River Restoration Begins with Removal of Great Works Dam
June 11, 2012

Landmark Purchase of Dams Opens New Chapter for Penobscot River Fisheries
Dec. 20, 2010

Chinese Delegation from Yangtze River Visits Penobscot River Restoration Project
Dec. 10, 2009

Penobscot River RestorationDan Kusnierz, the Water Resources Program Manager for the Penobscot Nation, collects water samples on the Penobscot River near Indian Island, Maine. The Nature Conservancy in partnership with an unprecedented array of partners, including the Penobscot Indian Nation, have come together to accomplish the goal of restoring the Penobscot River. © Bridget Besaw
The Penobscot River: A Model Conservation Partnership

A partnership shows how everyone – residents, companies and nature – wins when a river is restored. Follow the success

PA Events Penobscot RiverAn aerial view looking south includes a large paper mill and Maine's Route 1 bridge, which crosses the Pensobscot River at a point where the river flows into Maine's Penobscot Bay and the Atlantic Ocean beyond. PHOTO CREDIT: ©Mark Godfrey/TNC
Penobscot River Restoration: History, Plans and Partners

The restoration of the Penobscot River is an unprecedented and innovative effort. Learn more

Mark TercekMark Tercek in the Worldwide Office garden. Erika Nortemann/© 2009 The Nature Conservancy
Historic Dam Removal to Benefit Nature and People

The removal of the Great Works Dam along Maine’s Penobscot River is an important milestone in an unlikely collaboration among diverse partners. Read Conservancy President Mark Tercek's blog.

Follow SanJayan in the Solomon IslandsBlythe’s hornbill and Sanjayan. © The Nature Conservancy
See Sanjayan’s “Best Dam Gift Ever”

What's the best gift you ever received? For the Conservancy's Sanjayan, it was news that three large dams in Maine were purchased in a historic deal worth $24 million. Read Sanjayan’s blog

apsestreamshotColin Apse © Colin Apse
Penobscot River Restoration Q&A with Colin Apse

"We’re restoring the second-largest river in the Northeast, the last vestige of habitat for the vast majority of Atlantic salmon remaining on the East Coast of the U.S." - Coin Apse. Read more

twolivesoneriverAna and Margo at work in the stream © K. Brusie
Two Lives, One River

Spending time in nature helps two women understand their place in the world. See their story.

Read More

Photo Special Features TabLion in Maasai Mara, Kenya, Africa. © Kenneth K. Coe

Close Encounters with Nature

Whether scary or exciting, nature has a way of sneaking up on you. See stories

Arden OConnor 215x143Arden O’Connor. © Lajla LeBlanc

Nature Matters

Hear some of nature's success stories and see how nature matters to us all. Watch videos

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