February 1, 2011

Maine dam owners sued for endangering salmon

By Beth Quimby bquimby@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

Two Maine environmental groups are suing the owners of dams on the Androscoggin and Kennebec Rivers for failing to protect the rivers’ salmon populations which are on the federal Endangered Species List.

The lawsuits was filed in U.S. District Court in Portland and Bangor by the Friends of Merrymeeting Bay and Environment Maine.

The court action was filed against NextEra Energy Resources Inc. for violations at the Weston, Shawmut and Lockwood dams on the Kennebec River and Brunswick Dam on the Androscoggin River; Brookfield Renewable Power Inc. and its affiliate for violations at the Hydro Kennebec Dam on the Kennebec River; the Merimil Limited Partnership for violations at Lockwood Dam; Miller Hydro Group for violations at Worumbo Dam on the Androscoggin; and Topsham Hydro Partners Limited Partnership for violations at the Pejepscot Dam on the Androscoggin.

The lawsuit claims that the dam owners have hindered salmon recovery in the rivers by refusing to take simple protection measures such as installing devices to divert salmon away from turbines.

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