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

that address fish passage. Similarly, the MPA contains specific language on fish
passage provisions that could affect timelines listed in the work plan. Additionally,
the MPA spells out specific fish passage strategies depending on whether the
Veazie and Great Works dams are removed and the Howland Dam is bypassed as
well as to which entity would be responsible for funding, installing, and operating the
fish passage facilities.
17.1.2 Review Need and Process to Increase Upstream and Downstream Fish
Passage Efficiency at FERC Non-Jurisdictional Dams Located on Tributaries
for Juvenile and Adult Atlantic Salmon
There is at least one FERC non-jurisdictional dam on Penobscot River tributaries,
the Guilford Dam located on the Piscataquis River, which is critical for passage of
target restoration fish species. How fish passage improvements are addressed at
this dam needs to be explored to develop options and approaches to ensure fish
passage facilities meet established goals.
17.1.3 Review Existing Fish Passage Studies and Migration/Movement
Undertaken within the Penobscot River Watershed for Juvenile and Adult
Atlantic Salmon
Over the past 20 years, there have been several studies undertaken by hydro dam
operators, University of Maine graduate students, the Maine Atlantic Salmon
Commission, and others attempting to determine the efficiency of fish passage
facilities for juvenile and adult Atlantic salmon and to understand inriver movements
of adult and juvenile Atlantic salmon. Passage at tributary dams and inriver
movements/migrations for other anadromous fish species have not been studied in
Penobscot River tributaries. There is a need to synthesize the Atlantic salmon
information to provide for baseline conditions and to inform future passage studies
for Atlantic salmon.
17.1.4 Develop Assessment Study Plans, Conduct Fish Passage Efficiency
Studies, and Develop Recommendations for Fish Passage Improvements for
Juvenile and Adult Atlantic Salmon
Not all existing fish passage facilities and/or operational measures (e.g. cycling
turbines, opening sluice gates, temporary shutdown of generation) have been
assessed for the passage of juvenile and adult Atlantic salmon. Studies of existing
fish passage facilities will need to be undertaken to further understand bottlenecks
and/or poor performance of existing fish passage facilities to make them more
effective in successfully passing Atlantic salmon adults, smolts, and kelts around
tributary hydro projects and non-hydro dams. Any newly constructed fish passage
facilities, including the Howland nature-like bypass, will need to undergo rigorous
testing to ensure they function properly and are effective in passing the target
restoration fish species. All studies should be undertaken over the course of a
minimum of three field seasons
17.1.5 Complete Fish Passage Improvements Based on Passage Efficiency
Studies
PRFP Page 69