Endangered species program for salmon to be addressed

MACHIAS – Representatives of federal and state agencies will explain how they will develop an endangered species recovery plan for Atlantic salmon in five Washington County rivers during a March 29 public meeting at the University of Maine at Machias.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service listed Atlantic salmon in eight Maine water bodies as an endangered species late last year. The eight rivers include the Dennys, East Machias, Machias, Narraguagus and Pleasant rivers in Washington County.

The federal agencies have 18 months from the listing date to develop a draft recovery plan and representatives of both agencies will describe that process during the 7 p.m. meeting.

Fred Kircheis, executive director of the Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission, also will speak during the meeting, according to Steve Koenig, the director of Project SHARE.

Project SHARE is a group of large landowners, salmon fishermen, conservation organizations and state and federal agencies that are working to protect salmon in the Down East rivers.

Koenig said Thursday’s meeting initially was planned by Matt Scott, the former director of Project SHARE who asked the federal agencies to explain the recovery process to Washington County residents.

The UMM Science Club is sponsoring the meeting, which is informal and not part of the formal public hearing process on the recovery plan, Koenig said.

The presentations will be brief, allotting most of the time for questions from the public, Koenig said.

The meeting will take place in UMM’s Performing Arts Center and will run from 7 to 9 p.m.