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The federal authorities dominated Monday that the final wild Atlantic salmon within the nation can coexist with hydroelectric dams on a Maine river, dealing a blow to environmentalists who’ve lengthy sought to take away the dams.
The salmon, as soon as ample within the U.S., now return to only some Maine rivers. One is the Kennebec River, dammed by Brookfield Renewable Vitality Companions. The Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stated Monday that the dams aren’t more likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the salmon if conservation measures are taken.
Conservation measures alongside Brookfield’s 4 Kennebec dams are designed to enhance fish passages and would require an funding of greater than $100 million by Brookfield, NOAA stated. The dam upgrades would permit the salmon to swim up the Kennebec from the Atlantic Ocean to freshwater inland habitats for the primary time for the reason that development of the dams within the nineteenth century, the company stated.
The company reviewed the dams as a result of Brookfield is searching for to relicense considered one of them and amend the licenses for 3 others, stated NOAA spokesperson Allison Ferreira. NOAA stated in a press release that it’s going to “oversee an in depth monitoring program to make sure that the dams meet the expectations of improved fish passage within the Kennebec River.”
NOAA’s opinion “is a vital milestone in guaranteeing that these amenities can proceed to assist Maine’s clear vitality future and conventional industries alongside the decrease Kennebec River,” stated David Heidrich, a spokesperson for Brookfield.
Nonetheless, environmental teams stated the dams threaten extinction of the salmon, and NOAA’s ruling is shortsighted. Additionally they stated the dams endanger different weak species of fish, resembling sturgeon.
The dams’ damaging impacts on salmon are a violation of the Endangered Species Act, stated the Kennebec Coalition, an alliance of a number of environmental teams supporting dam removing, in a press release. They argue that along with blocking entry to key spawning habitat, the dams additionally create hazardous situations for this fish.
“Removing of those dams supplies the perfect likelihood to forestall Atlantic salmon from turning into extinct, whereas additionally persevering with the restoration of a vibrant, wholesome Kennebec River,” the assertion stated.
Atlantic salmon populations within the U.S. fell into the hundreds as a consequence of elements resembling overfishing and habitat loss, according to NOAA. They’ve been listed below the Endangered Species Act for over twenty years.
Conservationists and Native American tribes have for years made the case that Brookfield has not fulfilled its obligations to guard the remaining salmon.
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