Apathetic sportsmen have time to battle Basin Mills

Out and About: The Department of Environmental Protection’s recommended approval of a state water quality certificate for Bangor Hydro-Electric Co.’s Basin Mills Project didn’t surprise many people. Why would it after only a dozen or so fishermen showed up to oppose the project at the Board of Environmental Protection’s public hearings held at the Bangor Civic Center last December.

For the past five years or so, salmon club members have been ranting and raving their opposition to the project that includes construction of another dam – another flow-obstructing, water-warming, salmon-restoration deterring dam – in the Penobscot’s main-stem section. Where was all the vocal casting when it would have counted?

I still consider that to be the most disgusting display of sportsman apathy I’ve ever seen. Because of it, I was convinced the Penobscot River’s salmon-fishing clubs had become social clubs in which 90 percent of the memberships could care less if another salmon ever swam the river.

But that fits. Remember, it was only a handful of people whose genuine concern stopped the slaughter of buffalo and brought the animals back from the edge of oblivion. The same holds true for several other fish and wildlife species.

For example, striped bass populations are increasing as the result of restrictions imposed on commercial fishing and sport fishing. Wood duck, canvasback, and redhead duck populations were rejuvenated after dramatic declines and most recently black ducks are showing signs of pulling out of a 25-year tailspin. All of these and more were accomplished because a few concerned people were willing to oppose the many, and more often than not, money.

So it will be with the Basin Mills Project. The Penobscot River Coalition, the Maine Council of the Atlantic Salmon Federation, The Penobscot Indian Nation, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will stay in the fight knowing they have the ability to throw a counterpunch that could KO the project in the final rounds. First off, the DEP’s recommendation must pass the Board of Environmental Protection’s vote, which is scheduled in August.

Also, keep in mind that, in the early rounds, Maine’s Public Utilities Commission disapproved the Basin Mills draft application because Bangor Hydro couldn’t prove the $140-million, 44-megawatt project was necessary. From where I’m standing, it doesn’t appear there has been any great changes in the need for electrical power. Not enough, at least, to diminish the 20-percent surplus that Bangor Hydro admits to in the region.

I’m not going into all the mitigations Bangor Hydro has offered concomitant to the Basin Mills Project, other than to say that, in my opinion, they are offered only to enhance the company’s public image relative to support for the project. From where I’m standing, I don’t see anyone in Bangor Hydro’s management who genuinely cares whether or not another Atlantic salmon ever ascends the Penobscot River. But the sad part of it is, there appears to be only slightly more concern among members of the Penobscot River salmon clubs.

Now, however, there is a chance to mend the poor cast made at the hearings in Bangor. As you know, the Basin Mills Project also must be approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Accordingly, on July 28-29, FERC will conduct a “scoping meeting” regarding its Environmental Impact Statement on the Basin Mills Project. The scoping meeting includes site visits and meetings.

On the evening of July 29, FERC will hold a 7-10 p.m. public hearing at the Black Bear Inn off Stillwater Avenue in Orono. At that time, you can and should express your opposition to the Basin Mills Project. As Don Shields, chairman of the Penobscot River Coalition says, “The free-flowing segments of the Penobscot River that offer spawning and nursery habitat for Atlantic salmon and the Atlantic salmon-restoration program lies in your hands. Please make your voice known at the hearing.”

Think about Atlantic salmon, not only Atlantic salmon fishing.

You could say area anglers Doug McVay, Scott MacArthur and his son, Aaron, Jim Strang, and Fred Johnston got right in amongst ’em on Labrador’s Atakonack River recently. Jim Strang piloted the float plane that deposited the anglers at Riverkeep Lodge, which is jointly owned by Scott MacArthur and well-known Maine outfitter Matt Libby of Ashland.

Perhaps you’ve heard the Atakonack teems with trophy trout and landlocked salmon. Although Scott allowed the fishing was somewhat behind schedule, the enviable anglers caught trout up to 5 pounds, salmon up to 6 pounds, and pike that pulled the camp scales down to the 12-pound mark. Doug McVay landed the heaviest togue, a 14-pounder.

“The highlight of the week for me,” said Doug, “was the last evening when fish were rising for mayflies. I put on a No. 16 Blue Winged Olive and caught several salmon and brookies, including a 4 1/4-pound trout that put me in the camp’s “4 for 16″ club; that’s any fish over 4 pounds caught on a No. 16 fly. If a person has the chance to get up to that country, I strongly recommend it. Every fisherman should experience that kind of fishing at least once a lifetime.”

Amen.