Two hundred tiny Atlantic salmon fry will be released into Kenduskeag Stream this week.

The one-inch fish, which are stocked in Maine’s rivers and streams, are the best hope for the state’s battered Atlantic salmon fishery.

But these particular fish play a more important role.

For the past five months these fish have lived in the lobby of the Bangor Public Library, teaching local children the importance of environmental stewardship.

The library is one of 150 sites statewide that have hosted tanks full of salmon through education programs sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Maine Council of the Atlantic Salmon Federation.

Since the programs began in 1995, tanks full of salmon eggs have been sent to community sites in February, and after they hatched in early June, the fry released into the wild.

“The children care for these fish and they learn the importance of habitat,” said Peter Steenstra, an educator with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“In order for this species to survive, we all have to be stewards of high quality watersheds,” he said.

The Bangor Public Library fish release will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday at Six Mile Falls, and the public is invited to attend.

Outdoor heritage grants

The Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund recently selected 24 conservation projects that will share a half-million dollars from the sale of conservation license plates and an outdoor instant lottery ticket.

The Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund was created in 1995 to provide grants for fisheries and wildlife conservation, acquisition and management of public lands, endangered and threatened species conservation, and natural resources law enforcement. Since its inception, the fund has provided more than $9.4 million in grants to 343 projects.

This year’s projects include:

? $3,000 for a study of potential improvements to the trout habitat in Hadlock Brook on Mount Desert Island.

? $61,197 for mapping critical wildlife and plant habitat in 45 towns statewide that are facing significant development pressure.

? $22,853 for an assessment of whether a dragging moratorium should remain in place for Taunton Bay.

? $15,000 to study mercury levels in salamanders.

? $83,000 for shore land conservation along the St. Croix River and Cobscook Bay in Washington County.

The deadline for the next round of grant applications is Sept. 1, 2002. For more information, call 688-4191.

Nature-based tourism

More than 100 people, from hunting guides to white-water rafting instructors, attended an April discussion of how Maine should manage its growing nature-based tourism industry.

Outdoor recreation is among the fastest-growing Maine industries, and state planners hope to design best practices to guard against environmental degradation.

“It was quite clear by the end of the day that those people working in the industry believe that Maine needs a statewide policy for tourism with an emphasis on Maine’s premier ability to attract and satisfy tourists who are looking for a ‘back-to-nature’ type of experience,” said Nat Bowditch, assistant director for the Maine Office of Tourism.

A second nature-based tourism workshop is planned for January 2003 in Augusta. For more information, contact Marc Edwards at the University of Maine at marc.Edwards@umit.maine.edu or 581-2835.

Moose Lottery

Prospective hunters are reminded of the annual moose permit lottery, to be held beginning at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday at Bucksport High School. Watch the Bangor Daily News sports section Thursday for a full list of this year’s winners.