Last Thursday, many of us from NRCM as well as other partners in the Penobscot River Restoration Project, traveled to Old Town to celebrate the news that the Penobscot River Restoration Trust is exercising the option to purchase three dams on the Penobscot, so that eventually two dams can come down and another can have safe fish passage so that Atlantic salmon and other species can have access to 1,000 more miles of habitat. I remember when this project first started and it seemed like such a huge task - to raise all the money and do it in what seemed a short amount of time. I wasn't able to be at the announcement of the project in October, 2003, but to be able to be on the banks of the river with members of the Penobscot Indian Nation, state government, congressional delegates and staff, and just lots of people who love the Penobscot River and want to see it restored - it was a wonderful day. And the sunny, warm weather certainly added to the celebration!
Governor Baldacci, Chief Francis, Laura Rose Day and others made inspiring remarks during the event, and I feel so fortunate that I was able to be there for this historic occasion. People have worked so hard to make this project a success - and to have business, conservation groups, the Penobscot Indian Nation, federal and state governments working together on a project is really wonderful!
The New York Times published an article and an editorial about this project. I encourage you to read them and to read the other stories about this project on our website at www.nrcm.org.
Beth Dimond
