For Immediate Release						March 14,
2005

Dam License Renewal agreement will develop and improve wetlands, and enhance fisheries

AUGUSTA, Maine -- A new license for Great Lakes Hydro American, LLC will allow continued 

operation of water storage dams on four lakes on the 
West
Branch of the Penobscot River, and provide for a wide range of benefits 
for
a variety of conservation issues.

On December 22, 2004, Great lakes Hydro American, LLC received approval 
from
the Federal Energy and Regulatory Commission for a new 50 year license. 
The
license is the result of ten years of work between the the dam owners, 
GLHA;
and state, federal, and private organizations.  The non-generating 
storage
dams are located in the upper West Branch of the Penobscot River 
drainage on
Ragged Lake, Seboomook Lake, Caucomgomoc Lake, and Canada Falls Lake.
Several smaller dams were also involved in the final agreement.

"The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is charged with 
protecting,
enhancing, and providing for the wise use of the fish and wildlife 
resources
in Maine. This project is a good example of how the mission of the
Department has expanded over the years," said John Boland, Fisheries
Director of Program Development. "The Department's involvement with 
this
long-term project ensures that the highly valued fish and wildlife 
resources
are protected not just for anglers and hunters, but recreational 
boaters,
campers, and others who just enjoy the woods and the water in the great
State of Maine."

Members of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 
Penobscot
Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe, U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish 
and
Wildlife Service, U.S Department of the Interior, U.S. National Park
Service, Maine Department of Conservation, Appalachian Mountain Club,
American Whitewater, and New England FLOW worked with GLHA to come up 
with
an agreement that balanced the safety and economic issues with resource
utilization and protection. 

The agreement allows for conservation easements on some lands, public 
and
tribal access, adequate flows for recreational boating; and improved 
boat
launches and facilities.  It also involves very significant fish and
wildlife enhancements and mitigation projects.

Stable lake levels: All four lakes will be filled as full as practical 
in
the spring and held stable  (+/- 1 foot) until mid-July. Drawdowns will 
be
reduced, in some cases dramatically. For instance, winter drawdowns at
Canada Falls Lake will be reduced from 26 feet to 3.5 feet.  The 
reduced
drawdowns will increase the availability of winter habitat for wild 
brook
trout. It will also allow boating access throughout the fishing season.
Also, the stable water levels during nesting periods for loons and 
waterfowl
would increase nesting success, as well as improve conditions for 
wetlands
development and erosion control.

Wetland enhancements: In addition to the improved stability in lake
elevations, other actions will be taken to enhance the quality and 
quantity
of wetlands in the project area.  Gates from the dam on Loon Lake will 
be
permanently removed and replaced with stop logs to maximize wetland
development.  Wetland enhancement at Loon Lake was a high priority for 
the
Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for this impoundment has 
large
shallow expanses that will be well suited for the development of 
emergent
aquatic vegetation which is utilized by waterfowl, beaver, muskrats, 
and
moose. GLHA will also make a one time payment of  $35,000 to the 
Department
for future wetland enhancement.


River flows: Some of northern Maine's best river fishing is located in 
this
project area, and it was a high priority of the Maine Department of 
Inland
Fisheries and Wildlife to protect and enhance this fishery. 

Optimum flows for boating to the lower reaches of the river in 
September
will now be guaranteed and flow studies indicated that flows for
recreational boaters could be accommodated in the summer months while 
still
enhancing fish habitat. Target flows designed to maximize salmon and 
trout
habitat in the West Branch were found to be adequate for recreational
boating such as canoeing and kayaking as well. This is a good example 
of how
Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife staff is often called upon 
to
address needs of non-fishing and hunting groups. Flows in Caucomgomoc 
Stream
will maximize wild salmon production and provide for fall 
attraction/fishing
flows.  Flows in the South Branch were designed to improve the wild 
trout
fishery and to provide some high quality recreational boating 
opportunities.

Perhaps the most exciting fisheries enhancement for this project 
involves
the wild brook trout fishery in the North Branch of the Penobscot 
River.
Currently, a limited number of wild trout from Seboomook Lake ascend 
the
North Branch in the fall.  This run is totally reliant on natural rain
events which are often insufficient to create a stable fishery. Under 
the
new license agreement, some of the storage available upstream in Dole 
and
Long Ponds will be held until September.  Flow studies conducted by the
Department indicate that flows of 100 cfs would be sufficient to 
attract and
hold mature wild brook trout in this river section.  The new plan calls 
for
approximately 100 cfs to be released from Dole Pond starting in early
September.  This flow augmentation, combined with the expected increase 
in
the trout population in Seboomook Lake, could establish a quality wild 
brook
trout fishery in roughly 9 miles of river in northern Maine.