Project snapshot - Restoration of Riverine Process and Habitat Suitability, Narraguagus River, Beddington, ME
Project update 1 pager
Project SHARE has recently completed a 0.4 mile river restoration project in the Narraguagus River.
This project is in some of the best of the best riverine habitat for brook trout in the Downeast Maine watersheds. Project SHARE has invested seven years of restoration action in the Upper Narraguagus River, and has completed connectivity actions (50 road crossings) on perennial, fish bearing streams in the 80 square mile focus area. With the connectivity completed, they could next focus on restoring stream complexity and habitat suitability.
This project, completed in the summer of 2022, improves habitat for brook trout and Atlantic salmon by adding large wood and complexity with engineered log jams and other structures. It focuses on restoring natural stream processes that improve stream health and habitat for fish.
What do we mean by 'restoring natural processes'? Adding large wood increases the number and depth of pools, increases groundwater/surface water interactions (this helps keep water cool), and decreases substrate embeddedness by mobilizing the riverbed and increasing the sorting of mobilized sediments. Additionally, the large wood and boulder structures will intercept and retain organic material like leaf litter, bolstering the food web. For more information on process-based restoration, see this manual from Vermont FWD.
According to Scott Craig, USFWS, "Dr.Gubernick (US Forest Service) did a great job showing us how to build the Engineered Log Jams (ELJ) and they are massive! While digging the upper ELJ (3 total) we intercepted a groundwater spring. 48F (9C) water is now flowing into the 6 foot pool associated with this ELJ. No Pools were previously in project area- we now have 3!"
In September 2022, over 50 people attended a native plant workshop including students from University of Maine Orono and Machias campuses, restoration practitioners, and foresters.
EBTJV is proud to have helped fund this work alongside numerous partners:
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Maine Division of Marine Resources
Project SHARE dues
American Forestry Management
Jordan Environmental Engineering
Jasper Wyman and Sons
Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture
Davis Foundation
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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