The goal of salmon research is to determine what factors are contributing to the decline of Atlantic Salmon populations in rivers in Maine. Current efforts focus on baseline research, large-scale surveys, and chemical and biological quantification. Major efforts include extensive analysis of early life stage survival through post smolt and water chemistry analysis. Future work will continue to focus on smolt survival and chemical variation in Maine's Salmon rivers.

Session Co-Chairs:
Dan Kircheis, NOAA Fisheries
Dan is a Fisheries Biologist for NOAA-Fisheries out of the Maine Field Station in Orono, Maine. Dan's principal responsibilities are coordination of collaborative Atlantic salmon restoration projects within the Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment. He is currently involved in the coordination of a pilot calcium enhancement project on one of Maine's downeast salmon rivers to assess how water chemistry enhancement may serve as a tool for Atlantic salmon recovery.
Ken Johnson, Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Environmental and Watershed Research
Ken Johnson is a full time researcher and PhD. student at the Senator George Mitchell Center for Environmental and Watershed Research at the University of Maine, Orono. He is also the field coordinator and analyst for the Center. His PhD. work focuses on water quality as it relates to salmon in Downeast rivers.
 

Charles Hebson, Chief Hydrologist, Maine Department of Transportation
16 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333, 207/624-3073, charles.hebson@maine.gov

Hydraulic Evaluation of Tidal Circulation in Libby River Marsh
The Libby River Marsh in Scarborough, Maine, is connected to the larger Scarborough Marsh through a 6-ft diameter culvert beneath Route 207. It has been suggested that this culvert represents a restriction on tidal circulation into the upper Libby River marsh, thereby reducing salinity levels and facilitating the displacement of spartina marsh grasses by a phragmites monoculture. Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) has been working with the Friends of Scarborough Marsh and State and Federal agencies to evaluate the role of this culvert in marsh tidal circulation. MDOT has completed a detailed hydraulic model of culvert performance in support of this evaluation. The model results are consistent with qualitative visual observations and provide guidance for improving tidal flow beneath the road. This paper describes the efforts made to date to understand and improve marsh circulation.
 

Kocik, John F., NOAA Fisheries1 and Kenneth F. Beland, Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission2
1. 31 Main Street, Orono, ME, 04473, 207/866-7341, john.kocik@noaa.gov
2. 650 State Street, Bangor, Maine 04401, 207/941-4486, Ken.Beland@maine.gov)

Fresh Water and Marine Elements of Salmon Survival: How Change Impacts Population Recovery
Prior to 1995, population assessments of Atlantic salmon in the Narraguagus River, Maine, indicated that declining marine survival was a critical factor limiting stock recovery in this index river. Beginning in 1996, we expanded our annual assessment activities to focus on both smolt production in the River proper and on early marine survival in Narraguagus Bay. Although management actions since 1996 have resulted in enhanced parr production within the River, annual smolt production has only ranged between 1,200 and 3,600 fish, and adult returns have been less than 25 fish per year. Observed smolt production (30-60 smolts/ha) is only 10-20% of expected levels. Marine survival remains less than 1.5% with substantial mortality occurring during emigration to the marine environment. Our habitat-bounded assessments provided a vital tool for assessing population dynamics in salmon by partitioning mortality across freshwater, estuarine, and marine ecosystems. Our demographics data and related physiology studies suggest that riverine water quality effects the survival of smolts as they enter the ocean. More research on transitional ecology is needed as well as investigations to see if water quality influences over-winter survival and condition prior to emigration as well.
 

Atle Hindar, Norwegian Institute for Water Research
atle.hindar@niva.no

Restoration of Acid Waters in Norway - Use of Different Liming Strategies
Acidification of lakes and rivers due to emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides has been a major environmental problem in parts of Europe and Northern America for many decades. Reduced pH and mobilization of inorganic aluminum from catchments to surface waters in areas of low weathering rate has caused dramatic biological effects. Regional fish death and loss of Atlantic salmon populations in 25 major rivers in Norway are among these effects. Public awareness and political concern for loss of biodiversity and the possibilities of recreational fishing resulted in the onset of large-scale liming programs in Norway and Sweden, starting around 1980. Up to now liming strategies have been developed in order to optimize ecological results and cost-effectiveness of the measures. Counteracting episodic acidification of streams and salmon rivers in the fjord-like areas at the Norwegian west-coast, normally receiving annual precipitation amounts of 2-4 meters, is among these challenges. Effects related to sea-salt episodes are particularly emphasized, and the potential of catchment liming as a long-term mitigation strategy is discussed.
 

Steve Kahl, Mitchell Center, and Ken Johnson, Mitchell Center
5710 Norman Smith Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, 207/581-3286, kahl@maine.edu

Acid-Base Chemistry and Historical Trends in Downeast Salmon Rivers
The downeast Maine rivers are unique in their dilute, low calcium, poorly buffered water chemistry. This chemistry is the result of geology and soil chemistry, plus abundant wetlands that export dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Available historical data suggests that the pH and Ca chemistry has not changed substantially in the recent past. The rivers typically have pH in the 6 to 7 range and there is no evidence of major changes in pH or Ca based on the available data back to the 1970s. Regionally, there has been some recovery from acidification due to implementation of acid rain reduction legislation in both the US and Canada, but natural organic acidity in these rivers may be offsetting 'recovery' from acid rain. Because salmon evolved with this dilute, low Ca water chemistry, it was probably not a major factor in the demise of the salmon, but this water chemistry may be a factor preventing recovery in salmon populations.
 

Robert W. Dudley, US Geological Survey1, Glenn A. Hodgkins, US Geological Survey1, and Joan Trial, Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission2
1. 196 Whitten Road, Augusta, ME 04330, 207/622-8201, rwdudley@usgs.gov / gahodgki@usgs.gov
2. 650 State Street, Bangor, ME 04401, 207/941-4452, joan.trial@maine.gov

Twentieth Century Trends Toward Earlier Hydrologic Spring for Coastal River Basins in Maine
Trends over the 20th Century were examined in streamflow, river ice, and snowpack for coastal river basins in Maine. Trends over time were tested in the timing and magnitude of late-winter and spring river flows; river ice-off; and changes in late-winter snowpack depth, equivalent water content, and density. Significant trends (p < 0.1) toward earlier spring peak flow and earlier center-of-volume runoff dates were found in streamflow records spanning 1906-2000. The records also show significant trends toward increasing streamflow across all flow frequencies for late winter months and decreasing streamflows for spring months. Last spring river-ice-off dates at most coastal streamflow-gaging stations examined are trending to earlier dates. The longest, most complete snow records in coastal Maine indicate an increase in snow density for the March 1 snow-survey date during the last 60 years. The historical trends in streamflow, ice, and snow are all consistent with an earlier onset of hydrologic spring conditions in coastal river basins in Maine.
 

Clem Fay, Penobscot Indian Nation1 and Gordon Russell, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service2
1. 6 River Road, Old Town, ME 04468, 207/827-7776 x7362, pinfish@penobscotnation.org
2. 1168 Main Street, Old Town, ME 04468, 207/827-5938, gordon_russell@fws.gov

Penobscot River Restoration Project: Opportunities for research & studies
The Penobscot Restoration Project is an unprecedented effort to restore historic spawning habitat and/or improve migratory access for 11 native sea-run fish species, including Atlantic salmon, American shad, alewife, blueback herring, striped bass, Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon, rainbow smelt, tomcod, sea lamprey, and American eel. The project involves decommissioning three major hydroelectric dams, two of which would be removed. An innovative fish bypass would be built at the third to allow migrating fish to reach major spawning and rearing habitats.
Bald eagles, ospreys and other wildlife would have improved foraging opportunities as a result of the dam removals and restored fish runs. Similarly, the forage base for oceanic predators in the Gulf of Maine, such as cod, halibut, tuna, seals, and fish-eating whales, will also be improved. Finally, the project would help restore nutrient cycling and other ecological connections between the ocean and freshwater that have been impaired or lost since the river was first dammed in the early 1800's.
Clearly, the project heralds numerous ecological and socio-economic changes that will occur over the next 10 to 20 years. There is an opportunity to investigate those events by documenting what exists now, and by monitoring the physical, chemical, biological, social, and economic changes as they unfold.