Strategic and Cooperative Conservation Efforts in Action: USFWS Maine Fishery Resources Office Collaborations in Downeast Maine

The Maine Fishery Resources Office (MEFRO) has been extremely successful in implementing subbasin scale (HUC 12) stream restoration efforts that embrace cooperative conservation with a myriad of State, Federal, Non-Governmental entities and private landowners. 

The presentation will discuss how MEFRO and Project SHARE (Salmon Habitat and River Enhancement) developed a strategic plan that has resulted in the completion of over 100 aquatic connectivity projects at stream-road crossings within designated critical habitat of endangered Atlantic salmon in Downeast Maine.

The Strategic Plan focused efforts within two Machias River subwatersheds that have high conservation merit in terms of both existing high quality salmonid habitat AND projected long-term protection from threats such as urbanization and increased road development.  Identification of priority focus areas allows financial resources to be directed in a cost-effective manner that increases the potential for long-term success of restoration activities.

The Strategic Plan was instrumental in providing a foundation to organize and concentrate field collection efforts that cataloged “aquatic connectivity” issues within high priority focus areas.  The resulting data and analysis included accurate cost estimates that allowed collaborators to successfully submit three award winning American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Projects (ARRA).

The focus area approach has resulted in the timely completion of 78 restoration sites, improving upstream access to 73.5 miles of fish habitat in two high priority subbasins in the Machias River watershed.  The cost of these two focus area projects has totaled $1,670,000 (Old Stream $816,000 @ 45.0 miles and West Branch Machias 854,000 @ 28.5 miles).  Percentage funding for both projects has been NOAA-USFWS-ARRA 56%, USDA-NRCS-WHIP 29%, USFWS 5%, NFHAP-EBTJV 3%, Landowners 4%, and Other sources (State, County and Private) 3%.

Project design (stream simulation) and costs per restoration type (wooden bridge, road decommission, open arch culvert, and remnant log drive dam) will also be discussed.