Development of a General Conservation Plan to Facilitate Small Dam Removals in an ESA Species Recovery Context in Maine

National Marine Fisheries Service is developing partnerships with private dam owners to work towards the recovery of endangered Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment (GOM DPS) of Atlantic salmon in Maine. Our approach is developing a General Conservation Plan (GCP), which involves willing dam owners and assists in compliance with federal laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act. The GCP is a much broader approach to individual Habitat Conservation Plans and serves as a resource that private dam owners can use to facilitate dam removals that benefit endangered Atlantic salmon. The GCP lays out a conservation strategy and a best management approach that can avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts to Atlantic salmon. Therefore, dam owners can take advantage of a “front loaded” streamline regulatory process by following the GCP guidelines and best management practices, avoiding a lengthy and potentially expensive process associated with traditional permitting, that saves time and provides greater regulatory certainty. As such, dam owners who participate in a GCP can be expediently authorized Incidental Take of endangered GOM DPS Atlantic salmon for construction activities required to remove their dam and provide upstream and downstream passage for anadromous fish.