A Stream Set Free

Troubled Waters

The old culvert—just 42 inches in diameter—was perched above the streambed, creating a barrier for fish like Eastern brook trout and Atlantic salmon. It also couldn’t handle the increasingly intense rainstorms hitting Maine. Floodwaters regularly overtopped the road, washing gravel and sediment into the stream and damaging the surrounding habitat.

The stream is designated as Critical Habitat for the federally endangered Atlantic salmon.  It’s part of the Marsh Stream watershed, a high-priority area for restoration identified by The Nature Conservancy, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (MDIFW) and NOAA Fisheries. In 2019, TNC staff reached out to the Town of Dixmont with an offer: to collaborate on replacing the failing culvert with a new, climate-ready crossing. The Dixmont Conservation Commission (DCC) took on the challenge.

The road to restoration wasn’t easy. After securing an initial grant from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, the town faced setbacks: additional funding didn’t come through and deadlines slipped past. But the DCC didn’t give up. They reapplied, regrouped, and eventually secured over $175,000 in new funding from state and nonprofit sources.

Building for the Future

With the funding finally in place, the town hired Dirigo Bridge Company to install a new 10½-foot-wide open-bottom arch culvert designed to let the stream flow naturally and give fish a clear path upstream. The new structure follows Stream Smart principles: it spans 120% of the full width of the stream, aligns with the natural channel, and includes native streambed materials and wildlife travel lanes.

Before construction began, MDIFW biologists and DCC members carefully relocated fish and other aquatic life from the project area. Among them were young-of-the-year Brook Trout: proof that the stream was still a vital breeding ground. 

By early July, the transformation was complete. The new crossing reconnected over two miles of upstream habitat, eliminated a chronic flooding problem and restored the stream’s natural flow.

Resilience in Action

Just a few months later, a powerful December storm put the new structure to the test. With multiple inches of rain and a foot of snow melting in less than 24 hours, the stream surged. But the new culvert passed the floodwaters without damage—no washouts, no erosion, no emergency repairs.

That’s the power of nature-based infrastructure. It’s not just about fish passage or habitat: it’s about protecting roads, saving taxpayer dollars and preparing communities for the realities of a changing climate.

“We’re seeing more frequent and intense storms, and that’s putting a lot of pressure on our infrastructure,” says Jeremy Bell, TNC Maine’s Climate Adaptation Program Director. “Replacing undersized culverts with Stream Smart crossings is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce flood risk while also restoring habitat.”

A Model for Maine

Dixmont’s story is one of persistence and the power of local action. It shows what’s possible when communities, conservationists and agencies all work together toward a common goal. And it’s a reminder that even small towns can lead the way in building a more resilient Maine.

As the stream flows freely once again, brook trout return to spawn, and the road stands strong against the next storm, Dixmont’s success offers hope—and a blueprint—for communities across the state. TNC in Maine's team of scientists and geospatial mapping specialists have worked together with partners to develop a suite of Maine Mapping Tools, which can help communities identify places where improved infrastructure is most needed. 

The storms aren’t slowing down. But with smart choices and strong partnerships, we can rise to meet them—one stream, one crossing, one community at a time.