Operational Plan for the Restoration of Diadromous Fishes to the ...

means to “provide safe, timely and effective fish passage sufficient to allow the fisheries
management goals and objective of the Resource Agencies and PIN to be met.”
During the spring and summer of 2007, representatives of the Penobscot River Restoration
Trust (Trust) met with state and federal fisheries agency staff to develop an Outline for
Preliminary Design of Proposed Howland Fish Bypass (Outline). The Outline included a
provision that:
“The preliminary design will also evaluate the feasibility and costs (including operating costs)
of incorporating provisions for trapping/sorting/counting of fish using the bypass. This
includes measures to exclude upstream migration of northern pike and black crappie, both
of which do not now exist above the Howland Dam, and are considered by Maine
Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to be undesirable, non-native invasive species.
Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the resource agencies are responsible for
management activities such as trapping/sorting/trucking.”
This letter is intended to address those concerns. The original intent of the Proposed
Bypass was to provide simple, safe, low maintenance upstream and downstream fish
passage for all species, all of the time. This report was prepared using conceptual design
information prepared by Milone & MacBroom, Inc. (MMI) and presents information relevant
to the general feasibility of a trapping/sorting/counting facility (TSCF). The intent of the
conceptual TSCF design discussed herein is to present general components of a TSCF
relevant to the determination of the feasibility of a TSCF.
A TSCF within the Proposed Bypass was identified by the Trust, in consultation with state
and federal regulatory authorities, as a means to (1) trap and survey upstream-migrating
fish; and (2) exclude non-native fishes. As presented here, a TSCF system is an integrated
system for trapping, sorting, and counting fish passing upstream and providing downstream
conveyance for flow in the Proposed Bypass. The conceptual TSCF presented here
therefore consists of appurtenances intended to provide means to trap fish passing
upstream and to provide for conveyance of water into the Proposed Bypass.
This study was being performed as part of the ongoing work by MMI on the dam removal
design for Veazie Dam and Great Works Dam on the Penobscot River and the design of a
bypass channel at Howland Dam. Information presented in this report was developed from
information obtained as part of the ongoing project work, collaboration with Dr. Alex Haro of
the U.S Geological Survey, and comments and suggestions by participants during the
March 11, 2008, project teleconference.
2 OBJECTIVES
The primary objective of the Proposed Bypass is to provide safe, timely, and effective
upstream and downstream passage for target diadromous fishes, including anadromous
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), American shad (Alosa sapidissima), alewife (Alosa
pseudoharengus), blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis), and sea lamprey (Petromyzon
marinus), and catadromous American eel (Anguilla rostrata). Adult fish represent the target
life-stage for upstream passage of the anadromous species. Target life stages for upstream
passage of American eel include both the “elver” and “yellow” phases. These fish are herein
collectively referred to as the target passage species. Multiple life stages of the target
diadromous fishes may also use the Proposed Bypass for downstream passage.
PRFP Page 271