Atlantic Salmon: Endangered Species List (Ellsworth, Machias: club, agriculture, move)

[BrokenTap]

Well on May 20th the Atlantic Salmon will be on the endangered species list and will impact almost all of Maine. We are a pretty big state so that seems rather significant. Excuse my ignorance but I am not really sure if this will have a big impact on agriculture here or not. From what I hear, every water flow issue will now have to go through the Federal Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Service whether you are just changing out a culvert or crossing a stream with a skidder. I would think as long as you were above a dam without a fish ladder, you simply write that down and the issue is moot I would think? My real question is, does this apply to everyone, or just those people getting funding via government programs like the Equip and WHIP programs?

[Maine Writer]

From Steve: "It's a Federal listing. It applies to everyone. The endangered species listing is for certain watersheds. Anything happening in those watersheds is under review. The major rivers that are new listings are the Penobscot, Kennebec and Androscoggin (pretty much takes care of the whole state). There are downeast rivers listed too. The Federal registry has a full list."

(insert grumbling here that I won't repeat)

[retiredtinbender]

I thought they went on the list back in '99 or so. We went to "The Great Salmon Wars" in Machias, Ellsworth and a third one somewhere else. One guy welcomed Gov. King to "Baxter State Park East" when he attended the Machias hearing. One trust-fund hippie said he'd reather see one salmon than any people in the State. Even the Sierra Club rep gasped at that. And as I recall, the placement does effect everyones impact on any river on the list; meaning fertilzer use on up. Aquaculture has a huge impact from what they said then. I'm grumbling along with MW.

[Bydand]

Come on over! Our Atlantic Salmon fishing is still a go here surprising enough. Doesn't seem right I move away from Maine and get a better Atlantic Salmon fishing area. The origin of the strain the state of Michigan released and are now reproducing in good numbers in the wild are the Landlocked from East Grand Lake. Doesn't sound right does it "Come to Michigan to fish Maine Atlantic Salmon" At least it doesn't to me.

They are actually doing well over here, but still not huge numbers like the other types of Salmon in the Great Lakes. Give them a few more generations and a few years and they are going to be in very good numbers I have a feeling.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

It isn't just "selected rivers". It's all watersheds. The entire country is in one watershed or another. It isn't about salmon. It's about water and the feds want to control it all.

[dmyankee]

Get ready folks, this is just the beginning!

Canadian Lynx and Eastern Timberwolf have been excuses for years to subvert our Freedoms.

The pinheads are, right now, trying to get the Eastern Cottontail listed as an endangered species.

There are many places the Bald Eagle is nothing more than a Dump Duck!