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Conservation in Maine

We believe that healthy watersheds provide a natural environment which leads to a healthy, prosperous community and economy.

The Maine Council of Trout Unlimited and it's chapters have worked on many conservation/restoration projects. We have been advocates for many large projects like dam removals on the Penobscot and Kennebec rivers to open fish passage to historic spawning grounds. Our grassroots volunteers have also logged hundreds of hours restoring small streams and ponds, removing culverts and obstructions to connect our watersheds and hosting streamside cleanups.

 

Penobscot River

The Penobscot River Restoration ProjectMaine’s largest river. Home to more than 90% of US Atlantic salmon, and 11 other species of sea-run fish. And 3 dams in the first 10 miles above tidewater. The Penobscot River Restoration Project will remove two of those dams, and a third dam at the mouth of the largest tributary, to improve access for sea-run fish to more than 1,000 miles of habitat. TU is proud to be working with the Penobscot River Restoration Trust and many other partners on the nation’s most comprehensive dam removal project. Click here to visit the Penobscot River Restoration Project.

Removal of the Great Works Dam will begin in 2012!

 

Embrace-A-Stream

Embrace-A-Stream (EAS) is the flagship grant program for funding Trout Unlimited's grassroots conservation efforts that advance TU's mission of conserving, protecting, and restoring coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. Overseen by a committee of TU volunteers and administered by its national office, Trout Unlimited annually raises money from TU members, corporate and agency partners, and foundations to distribute as small grants to local TU projects. Since its inception in 1975, EAS has funded 913 individual projects for a total of more than $3.6 million in direct cash grants. Local TU Chapters and Councils contributed over $7 million in cash and in-kind services to EAS funded projects.

For more information and to apply for a Embrace-A-Stream grant click here.

Funding

Project Funding

Conservation projects often require costly permits, heavy equipment and the efforts engineers and biologists. While our chapters provide the volunteers to complete these projects, funding is often the biggest hurdle.

Please take a few minutes and support one or more of our ongoing programs. Click on the picture below to download a donation form and specify what you'd like your donation to support.