MESSAGE FROM THE RIVER'S EDGE 
The Penobscot River offers a particular beauty this time of year, from the ice-rimmed banks of free-flowing sections, to broad expanses of ice that groan under its own weight and reflect the ever-present movement of underlying currents of water. Ducks linger at the edges of open pockets of water where the river runs most swift, and eagles often can be seen watching from close by. What remains hidden beneath stretches of river below the Veazie Dam are remnant populations of sea-run fish, such as the endangered shortnose sturgeon that overwinter here. Far above the dam, up closer to Howland, small numbers of juvenile salmon work toward completing their transformation to smolts, readying themselves to return to open sea in early spring, timed just perfectly when American shad and river herring should be making their runs to spawning habitat upstream.
With current sea-run fish populations so low, we know this entire system is out of balance, what should be happening, isn't, and there are all kinds of losses felt far inland and well out into the Gulf of Maine. But it's winter time, a time for dreaming, and the dream that most occupies my time as I drive up and down the river, looking out over the ice and trembling surges where the river flows free, is that of the movement of fish – millions of adult fish, coming upstream in wild throngs while the young of each year develop into adulthood. We are thankful for the efforts of our many partners and supporters who have joined with us to make real our hopes and visions for a restored river. This project update is offered with special pleasure, as the Penobscot River Restoration Trust achieved significant milestones over the past year. Warm wishes, Cheryl Daigle Community Liaison and Outreach Coordinator - Old Town
JOB OPPORTUNITY! We are currently accepting applications for a 5-9 month Americorps position with the Penobscot Trust, with a focus on outreach and communications. Click HERE for job description. INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING? Contact Cheryl Daigle at cheryl@penobscotriver.org for more information.
The Penobscot River Restoration Project is an unprecedented collaboration between the Penobscot Indian Nation, six conservation groups, hydropower company PPL Corporation, and state and federal governments, to restore 11 species of sea-run fish on the Penobscot River while re-balancing hydropower production. Successful implementation of the project will revive not only native fisheries but social, cultural and economic traditions of communities along New England's second largest river. | | FUNDRAISING SUCCESSES The end of 2007 was a very exciting time for the Penobscot River Restoration Trust. If you have not already seen it in the news, the Trust is pleased to report that we met our initial $10 million private campaign goal, and received a commitment of $10 million in federal funding to be administered through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). With the addition of the $5.4 million previously raised from federal grants, this completes the first phase of fundraising and puts us on target to exercise the option to purchase the dams this year. More information on these achievements can be found on our web site at www.penobscotriver.org. Although the Penobscot Trust has reached a huge milestone, we still have a fair distance to go to acquire the means to remove the Veazie and Great Works Dams, and build a bypass around the Howland Dam. Stay tuned for future fundraising efforts and, as always, we are deeply grateful for the many ways you are supporting our efforts to make a healthy and resilient Penobscot River a reality! SCOPING SESSIONS Last December, we held formal scoping sessions designed to provide an opportunity for individuals and businesses or organizations to view the scoping documents we are preparing for our permit application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and to suggest additional issues we should address in this application. We thank those supporters who participated in these meetings. The input we received –in the form of speakers at the meetings and letters –was overwhelmingly in support of the project, and very helpful in identifying additional issues we will consider as we prepare our permit application. There will be additional opportunity for public comment after we file the application. ORVIS RAISING FUNDS FOR PENOBSCOT RIVER RESTORATION Orvis has teamed up with the National Fish and Wildlife Federation to match donations of support (up to a total value of $150,000) for the Penobscot River Restoration Project, so the value of your contribution will be tripled. The company has also begun making contributions through asking customers if they would like to "round up" sales at the company store registers. We greatly appreciate this effort by Orvis to help us restore the Penobscot River to a healthy system, and bring back the once great runs of Atlantic salmon, American shad, river herring and other sea-run fish to the watershed. For more information, visit the Orvis web site and read an article about this fundraising effort by Bangor Daily News columnist John Holyoke. WELCOME NEW STAFF The Penobscot River Restoration Trust is pleased to announce the hiring of two new staff members. Jennifer Curtis is our Project Associate based out of Augusta and Old Town. Hired in December, Jennifer is a native of Farmington, with a background in environmental sciences and management. She is providing invaluable community outreach and administrative support as we move forward with the permitting process and continue to build on the tremendous support for the project at community events and other venues. Cheryl Gerrior joins us as our Director of Finance, managing the financial records and federal grants for the Penobscot Trust. Cheryl has a very strong background in non-profit finance, and more than 20 years of financial and administration experience. PENOBSCOT RIVER RESTORATION WEB SITE We welcome you to visit our web site frequently! Here are a few highlights of the many features on our web site that provide information on this historic effort: RIVER CULTURE AND WILDLIFE Our "River Culture and Wildlife" pages (found beneath "The River" tab on the Home page) offer articles, essays and the occasional poem contributed by member organizations of the Penobscot Trust and individual supporters. Learn more about spring migrations of river herring, eagles on the Penobscot River, the significance of a healthy river to the Penobscot Indian Nation, the history of the salmon clubs, ecological connections between Atlantic salmon and other sea-run fish, and more. MEDIA ROOM We have a significant archive of news articles written about the project or issues directly related to the project. Radio clips are a recent addition to these pages. Reporters can also find helpful materials on our 'Press Materials' and 'Press Releases' pages. Downloadable PDF's of publications on dam removal research and Atlantic salmon are also available. RIVER ESSAYS Our Encounters with the River page offers several essays looking at particular topics from the more personal perspective of direct experience on the Penobscot River. Topics range widely, and include explorations of river otters on the river, the companionship of dogs while walking along the river, tomcod – a winter resident, plant life, and the geologic foundations of river life. We are seeking contributors to this page – if interested, please contact Cheryl Daigle at cheryl@penobscotriver.org. 
The Milford Dam, headquarters for PPL Corporation in Maine, will become the first dam on the Penobscot River. This dam, along with five others owned by PPL, will generate more electricity, so that essentially the same amount of energy will be produced while fish passage is restored to nearly 1,000 miles of significant habitat for native sea-run fish. When the project is complete and fisheries restored, we may once again see Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon, rainbow smelt, striped bass, tomcod, river herring, American shad, and Atlantic salmon from this vantage point at the Old Town riverfront park. | |
E-NEWSLETTER FORMAT We've decided to return to the online newsletter format, and will send out quarterly updates via email with links to our web site. These updates can be easily printed off our web site and we will have print copies available at events that house our display. If you are not on our email list to receive updates, but would like to be, please visit our web site to join our supporter list. If you prefer print mailings, please contact Cheryl Daigle at cheryl@penobscotriver.org or by phone at 207-232-9969.
"This is the most significant river restoration project ever in the eastern United States. I applaud the Penobscot River Restoration Trust for working tirelessly to attract strong federal and private support for this important environmental restoration project." - Senator Susan Collins
UPCOMING EVENTS Please visit us at our display table at these upcoming events: Cabin Fever Reliever, February 23-24, Brewer 33rd Maine Fishermen's Forum, February 28 – March 1, Rockland 70th Annual Eastern Maine Sportsmen's Show, March 14-16, Orono Maine Sportsmen's Show 2008, March 28-30, Augusta
WRITING WORKSHOP Restoring a Landscape, Restoring Community, a writing workshop led by Cheryl Daigle of the Penobscot Trust and Holly Twining of Maine Audubon's Fields Pond Nature Center. April 12, 12 – 4 pm, at the Eddington Salmon Club. Workshop will include nature walks along the river below the Veazie Dam and a series of writing exercises with time to share as a group. To register contact Holly at htwining@maineaudubon.org. As always, thank you for your support and please contact us if you need additional information or would like us to share project news with a friend! Penobscot Trust Staff Laura Rose Day
Executive Director
George Aponte Clarke
Deputy Director
Jennifer Curtis
Project Associate
Cheryl Daigle
Community Liaison/Outreach Coordinator
Cheryl Gerrior
Director of Finance
Jeff Reardon
Engineering and Permitting
Board of Directors Fred Ayer - President
Tom Rumpf - Vice President
Andrew Goode - Secretary
Lisa Pohlmann - Treasurer
John Banks
Andrew Fahlund
Don Hudson
Alan Hutchinson
Elizabeth Maclin
Sally Stockwell |
