Maine gets $5M to restore northern fish habitat

Maine has been awarded $5 million in federal funds to enhance fish migration on the St. Croix River on a part of the state’s border with Canada, one in every of solely 55 proposals of 527 submitted this 12 months. 

The Maine Division of Marine Sources’ challenge will help migration on the Milltown and Woodland dams to considerably enhance fish passage in historic spawning habitat. Connective our bodies of water for river herring and different at-risk species shall be expanded as nicely.  The initiative may also assist increase the well being of the watershed and financial vitality within the St. Croix River and the Bay of Fundy. Collaboration between U.S. federal companies, Canadian companies, Tribal Nations, the state of Maine and different conservation companions will proceed by means of the challenge.

“The St. Croix River and its watershed play a key position in sustaining the well being of the ecosystem and the financial system in Japanese Maine,” U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Angus King, I-Maine, stated in a joint assertion.

“By enhancing fish passages alongside the river, this challenge will assist restore important habitat to guard native fish populations, whereas additionally supporting migratory birds and different wildlife,” they added. “We welcome this funding to protect the surroundings and profit present and future generations of anglers.

Collins, the rating member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, was a part of the core group of 10 senators who negotiated the textual content of the bipartisan infrastructure regulation. 

She and King have each labored to barter and go that laws, which can ship billions of {dollars} to Maine for investments in roads, bridges, broadband and different infrastructure.

The funding was allotted by means of the Nationwide Fish and Wildlife Basis’s America the Stunning Problem. Grants awarded by means of this system help initiatives that preserve, restore and join habitats for wildlife whereas enhancing group resilience and entry to nature.