https://themainemonitor.org/royal-river-dams-removal-plan/
"The Yarmouth town council voted unanimously this month to remove two
town-owned dams on the Royal River and consider fish passage improvements at a
stretch of rapids in between them, a historic vote more than two decades in the
making.
The decision follows a federal proposal released last spring and is the most
authoritative step to removing the Bridge Street Dam and East Elm Street Dam
since 2009, when the town first began studying how their removal could improve
the Royal River’s health and fisheries.
In addition to removing the two dams and their corresponding fishways, the town
resolution also provides for monitoring and managing fish passage beyond and
between the dams, revegetating and stabilizing sections of the Royal’s
riverbanks and protecting against invasive species.
To preserve bird and fish habitat around Gooch Island, where the East Elm
Street Dam slows and diverts water to the backside of the island, the removal
plan calls for somehow maintaining that flow — which could be done through
leaving and redesigning a small segment of the dam.
At the top of the resolution is recognition that Yarmouth occupies the
traditional homeland and unceded territory of the Wabanaki people, and the
significance of the Royal River watershed the Wabanaki refer to as
“Westcustogo.”
Town council members and environmental advocates rejoiced during the Dec. 19
meeting when the dam removal resolution was introduced and again on Jan. 2 when
it was ultimately tweaked and adopted, reflecting on the years of work that led
to the moment.
“This resolution to restore the Royal River to a more natural, free flowing
state is a culmination of years of study and debate,” said town councilor David
Craig. “It’s been a long, complex and sometimes emotional process and a
productive one … Now it’s time to free the Royal.”"
Via
Reasons to be Cheerful:
<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/what-were-reading-canada-first-first-responders/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
