Atlantic Salmon Use Restored Reach In Kenduskeag Stream, Maine
Corinth, Maine. Stream habitat is being restored in a section of Kenduskeag Stream where dairy cows eroded the riverbanks and destroyed the ripparian buffers. Cows are fenced from the stream and a bridge that restricted the stream channel and created a wide shallow pool has been replace. The pool is slowly reverting to a riffle, and further instream restoration projects are being designed. As a baseline for those restoration efforts, salmon parr are being stocked in an area upstream of the bridge and undisturbed by cows and within the area to be restored. Both have suitable temperature and water quality for juvenile salmon survival and growth; the difference is physical habitat quality. Fewer fish are found in the degraded area than in the undisturbed area, clearly documenting the limitations of the physical habitat on carrying capacity. Staff are also trying to determine if differences in the physical habitat are influencing which size fish remain in the two sites, or affecting growth. Once the habitat is restored, further parr stocking will be used to evaluate the change in the habitat’s ability to support juvenile salmon.
