Conservation

In addition to the substantial hours contributed by SebagoTU volunteers to trout and salmon stream rehabilitation projects, youth education, fly-tying, casting instruction and more, the chapter also contributes considerable sums of money to important conservation projects. Any finds in excess of our annual overhead needs are invested into a wide range of worthwhile environmental programs and education on a local basis. During the past three years, our chapter has contributed more than $10,000 in funding to make these programs work. Some of the recipients include:

— The Coldwater Conservation Fund of Trout Unlimited. A national conservation funding arm of our parent organization that has been very generous to Maine.

— The Depot Brook Project in Wells, ME.

— The Forest Society of Maine’s West Branch Project. For the purchase of a 329,000 acre easement to protect one of Maine’s pristine outdoor areas and it’s vast wild brook trout habitat.

— The Rapid River Orvis/National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. A $30,000 matching grant program to protect and deal with the brook trout threatening infestation of smallmouth bass.

— Maine Fisheries Biologist Forrest Bonney’s definitive book about the current state of Maine’s brook trout and their future prospects.

— The Penobscot Coalition’s anadramous/catadromous fish study and dam removal/watershed enhancement program.

—Southern Maine Conservation Education for school children of all ages.

Sebago TU Volunteer Support of Fish Passage Impediment Survey

Sebago TU teamed with the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP) during the summer of 2009 on their survey of impediments to fish passage for all waters flowing into Casco Bay. For more information Click Here.

Although the primary impetus for the project was Casco Bay and anadromous species passage, how fish can pass between different parts of the drainages affects fresh water species -- including trout -- as well. Badly designed culverts may prevent native and stocked trout from moving throughout the watershed as their needs change, such as pursuing cooler waters or spawning habitat. The data gathered will be used by both CBEP and IF&W, and should point out where improvements can be made that would improve trout habitat in the Crooked, Presumpscot and Royal River watersheds.

Work will continue in 2010 and focus on the Crooked River drainage, Given its importance as the spawning grounds for Sebago Lake landlocked salmon, the chapter looks forward to continued involvement. IF&W will have similar work going on in the Saco River watershed during the summers of 2010 through 2012 that will provide additional volunteer opportunities.

Want to be a TU volunteer? Contact Steve Heinz 781-4762 or contact Steve Heine.

Fin Clipping

On October 27, 2009, Sebago TU volunteers helped IF&W staff mark land locked salmon slated for stocking this spring from the hatchery in Casco. If you catch a small fin-clipped salmon in southern or central Maine over the next couple of years, Sebago TU likely played a small part in the process that got the fish there. Pictured (L - R) are Steve Tremblay (hatchery manager), Jim Pellerin (IF&W), Nate Hintze (TU), Brian Lewis (IF&W), Francis Brautigam (our local IF&W fisheries biologist), Steve Heinz, Pat O’Shea, Tim Sposato, and Stan Jennings (TU).

SebagoTU is always looking for a few extra hands. Whether it be some educational project, conservation work, clean-ups, helping out on the board or lending a hand on banquet day, your help is always welcome. If you're interested in getting involved with the largest chapter in the state, please see our Calendar of Events or contact Steve Heinz.

Presumpscot River

In 2003, the Sebago Chapter, along with many other local groups, donated $1000.00 for diadromous and non-anadromous fish studies on the lower Presumpscot. The goal was to show that fish existed there and that American Shad and Alewifes were moving beyond the area where Smelt Dam was recently removed. By doing so, we built a strong argument for further dam removal and/or passage.

During 2005, plenty of Shad and Alewifes were reported in the river. The surprising find was a healthy population of Brown Trout.

Visit this page to find out about the dates for our spring clean-up.

Depot Brook

In March of 2005, SebagoTU was granted the first successful "Embrace-A-Stream" Grant in its history for the Depot Brook Project. During the summer, a team of local and state groups, including SebagoTU, completed a stream walk evaluation to identify problem areas. During 2006, remediation work will commence to correct those findings.

SebagoTU, in conjunction with game warden Tim Spahr and the Wells Reserve put a plan together to preserve a population of wild Brook Trout in the urban area of Wells. Our donation funded an electo-shocking to determine where fish congregated and their amounts. From there the stream was mapped out professionally and a wonderful presentation was made to attract more support.

Tim Spahr has completed a book about urban/suburban trout stream management called “Incorporating Small Streams and Brooks into Developing Landscapes. SebagoTU contributed both substantial dollars and time into the creation of this excellent publication.

The project now supported by the Town of Wells and many of the businesses along the brook are looking into what they can do to make the project a success. The goal is to put a program together that other towns may adopt to preserve the wild streams they have while allowing businesses and the local economy to thrive.

Rapid River Brook Trout Project

In March of 2005, the Sebago Chapter donated $1000.00 towards the Rapid River Project. We did this through Orvis to take advantage of making grants that would triple our efforts financially.

Intensive population studies of brook trout, smallmouth bass and landlocked salmon migration patterns using implanted radio tags are underway. The knowledge gained by the results of this studies will hopefully aid in devising a method to control, or even better, eradicate the smallmouth bass.

Many other TU chapters in the state and even more private parties are making donations to this cause. If you haven't done so after receiving your latest Orvis catalog, you can still make donations through the Orvis web site by clicking on the image below.
The Orvis Company and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation have each offered to match up to a sum of $30,000 funds contributed to controlling the smallmouth population in Rapid River. The bass are feeding upon trout spawn, fry, fingerlings, par, and small adults, and are competing with trout for food resources. This has lead to a significant reduction of juvenile brook trout in the river and in the years to come will affect the quality of the fishery. The MIFW biologists believe that the bass will eventually eliminate or decimate the brook trout population unless a comprehensive and expensive control and reduction program is put in action immediately.

In the spring of 2005, TU national urged President Bush to add 20 million dollars in funding for the Penobscot Project in his 2007 budget.

In 2004 we donated $1000.00 towards the Campaign for the West Branch conducted by the Forest Society of Maine. The goal was to raise $35 million to conserve 329,000 acres of forestland in the tradition of public access. The tract of land runs from the northern tip of Moosehead Lake west to the Canadian border and north to the St. John River.

In 2003, two unprecedented projects to revive the Penobscot watershed were announced and our chapter was there to support both of them.

It was recently made public by our Governor that the goals were met and the campaign a success. You can find out more about the project by visiting www.fsmaine.org.

The Penobscot River Restoration Project involves dam removal and fish bypasses on dams from Bangor to Howland. This is by far the largest restoration project on the east coast, involving Trout Unlimited, Natural Resources Council of Maine, Maine Audubon, The Atlantic Salmon Federation, American Rivers, The Penobscot Nation, PPL Corporation, The State of Maine and the US Department of Interior.

The Project will significantly improve over 500 miles of river habitat, allowing for the recovery of native species and and sea-run salmon. Visit www.penobscotriver.org for more information.

Coldwater Conservation Fund

Trout Unlimited’s Coldwater Conservation Fund (CCF) has funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars into many Maine projects over the years. It was only fitting that our chapter donate $1000.00 in 2003 as a thank you for all they've for our state. To find out more about CCF, visit http://www.tu.org/join-the-community/major-donors-ccf.