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October 11, 2013
IFW To Host Three Meetings Concerning Kennebec River Fisheries
MAINE DEPARTMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES & WILDLIFE 284 State St., SHS 41, Augusta, ME 04333 www.mefishwildlife.com Main Number: (207) 287-8000
For Immediate Release October 11, 2013 Media Contact: Doug Rafferty 287-5248
IFW To Host Three Meetings Concerning Kennebec River Fisheries
AUGUSTA, ME -- The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is hosting three public meetings that will focus on the current status, ongoing research, and future of the Kennebec River freshwater fisheries. The public is encouraged to attend and participate at these meetings in Bingham, Madison and Fairfield.
Each meeting will focus on a different segment of the Kennebec River, and will be held near the fishery it represents. Meetings will open with a brief presentation concerning that segment of the river, and will be followed with a question and answer period. Each meeting will focus on two segments of the river.
?This is an opportunity for the public to discuss the future of these fisheries, and to learn about the research and management of this important river,? said Chandler E. Woodcock, Commissioner, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
Presentations will include topics such as recent history of the Kennebec fisheries, the current status, management strategies and options available moving forward, and other items such as brown trout strains, historical catch rates, and growth rates.
Department fishery Biologists will also discuss current research on the rivers including radio telemetry studies, stocking rates and strain evaluations.
?There is a lot of research concerning these segments we are eager to share, and look forward to hearing from anglers concerning what they have experienced with these fisheries,? said IFW Regional Fisheries Biologist Jason Seiders, who oversees the freshwater fisheries on much of the Kennebec.
Meeting locations and dates are as follows. All meetings are scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m.
Monday, October 21 ? Quimby Middle School, 263 Main St., Bingham. Meeting will focus on the section from Harris Station down to Wyman Lake including the Kennebec Gorge, The Forks and the Bingham reach below Wyman. Meeting begins at 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 24 ? Madison Area Memorial High School, 486 Maine St., Madison. Meeting will focus on the Solon and Madison river sections from the Williams dam in Solon down past the Madison Dam. Meeting begins at 6:00 p.m.
Monday, October 28 ? Lawrence Junior High School, 7 School St., Fairfield, Maine. Meeting will focus on the Shawmut section and the Skowhegan Reach below Weston Dam. Meeting begins at 6:00 p.m.
Among the topics to be discussed will be summaries of volunteer log books which are instrumental in much of the data collected.
?The data collected by a group of dedicated volunteers is invaluable,? said Seiders, ?Without this data, it would be difficult to analyze these fisheries.?