Biological Impacts of ARRA Funding to Salmonid Habitat Restoration in Downeast Maine

Project SHARE (non-profit,501©3) has been engaged in aquatic habitat restoration work intended to improve Atlantic salmon and Eastern brook trout populations in the Downeast Maine.  In 2007, SHARE developed a focus area approach intended to holistically restore stream processes in high priority sub-watersheds. Identification of high priority sub-watersheds and threats assessment within selected focus areas allows limited resources to be used in a manner that improves the potential for long-term success and benefit to the resource.  This preparation proved to be fruitful; in 2009 we received $1.8 million in ARRA funding from NOAA and $150,000 from USFWS for connectivity restoration in our focus areas. ARRA funding in addition to landowner contributions and NRCS contracts already in place enabled us to complete 75 road/stream crossings projects and remove several remnant dams in three years. We will present results from biological monitoring post construction, changes to Atlantic salmon recovery strategies, as well as other “ripple effects” that are occurring as a result of this concentrated restoration activity.