The Nature Conservancy - Public Scoping Sessions -- Penobscot River Restoration Project

Public Meeting Schedule

Wednesday, December 5, 2007
1:00-4:00 p.m. at Penobscot County Conservation Association in Brewer

Wednesday, December 5, 2007
7:00-9:00 p.m. at Penobscot County Conservation Association in Brewer

Thursday, December 6, 2007
7:00-9:00 p.m. at Howland Town Office

Download a formal notice about the scoping sessions.

For more information, download the scoping document for the Penobscot River Restoration Project.

Can't attend the meetings?

You can still make your voice heard by submitting written comments by December 18, 2007. Send your comments to:

Penobscot River Restoration Trust

P.O. Box 5695

Augusta, ME 03332

Join us on December 5 and 6, 2007 to express your support for the Penobscot River Restoration Project. The Penobscot River Restoration Trust is holding public scoping sessions to solicit comments regarding its proposal to decommission and remove the Veazie and Great Works dams, and to modify and build a fish bypass channel around the Howland dam.

The purpose of the public meetings is to provide a description of the project, and to get feedback from state and federal agencies and the public before filing regulatory applications to authorize the dam removal and bypass.

To support this groundbreaking project, please come voice your opinion at the scoping sessions. Below are some suggested themes for those wishing to speak at the sessions:

· Discuss your personal connection to the River or to the watershed. Do you live in the region, fish on the river, hike in the forests? How will you benefit from a restored Penobscot and revitalized riverfront communities?

· Discuss why you believe the restoration of the Penobscot is important, such as:

Maintaining hydro production while having tremendous ecological benefits
Helping to restore economic activity along the river through increased recreational opportunities.
Increasing access to over 1,000 miles of habitat for Atlantic salmon and other species.
Restoring access to full natural habitat ranges for species like the threatened Atlantic sturgeon, endangered shortnose sturgeon, tomcod and smelt.
Improving access to habitat for eleven species of sea-run fish.
Providing an unprecedented chance to contribute to our scientific understanding of the multiple benefits of this type of river restoration project.
Providing a ripple effect that will benefit insects, mammals, and birds. The forest and streams of the Lower Penobscot forest system (around Bangor, Amherst and Milford) will also benefit greatly from this project.

The Penobscot River Restoration Project resolved, without litigation, disagreements that have historically made the dam relicensing process highly controversial. Representatives from the power industry, conservation groups, native american groups, and state and federal agencies came together in a multi-party agreement that is a model for other rivers.

Click to Learn more about the Penobscot River Restoration Project.

A Scoping Document with more technical information about the dam removal and bypass proposal is available for review at locations in the watershed, at the Trust’s website (www.penobscotriver.org), or by contacting the Trust at (207) 699-9492 to request a copy.